I am Resilient...what does that mean?

Welp, it's been a month! 😮💨

Post Presidential Election 2024 has been A LOT for folks.

Let's all try to stay grounded & focus on what we can control vs what we can't.

What am I doing post election? The EXACT same thing.

Focusing on interpersonal interactions & Trauma Informed Leadership.

(see Trauma Informed defined below)

Watch the LIVE conversation I had with Johan Tocre about Post Election Blues and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel! Click here for full video

Check out 2 ways you can LEVEL UP your trauma informed skills!

I am a Vetted & Verified Trauma Informed Subject Matter Expert for Integrate Network:

Award-winning affinity group empowering professionals w/ human-centered communication and trauma-informed decision-making skills for a compassionate, resilient workforce.

Recipient of the 2023 Influential Leadership Award in Education and Healthcare by Heal Conferences

Integrate Trauma Informed Network Upcoming Events:

Level Up Opportunity #1

Take our Trauma Informed Communication & Decision-Making E-Learning Course!

Created by Award-Winning E-Learning designer & instructor: Julie Johnson

Two (2) ways to access the course:

1. Use QR code below to get 25% off (until Dec 1!!!) and take the course at your own pace with access to course materials for 6 months
2. Stay tuned for guided cohorts where the brilliant Julie Johnson will walk you through the course material in small groups to assist with getting through material in 5 weeks

Level Up Opportunity #2

Grab your seat for our month-long, virtual Trauma Informed Leadership Summit!

30 days of content with 10 of Integrate Network's finest Subject Matter Experts

March 1- March 31, 2025

Scan QR code in graphic below to reserve your spot!

What's going to be happening in this summit exactly?

• Online Symposium is a cutting-edge virtual event that brings together industry leaders, experts, and professionals to explore the intersection of trauma awareness and effective leadership strategies.
• Attendees will delve into topics such as fostering empathy in leadership practices, building resilience in teams, and promoting emotional intelligence in decision-making.
• Through engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and interactive workshops, participants will gain valuable insights and practical tools to integrate trauma-informed approaches into their leadership roles.
• This symposium offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate in a supportive online environment dedicated to advancing compassionate and empathetic leadership practices.

Register today to reserve your spot!

Thank you to a few of our sponsors:

Johan Tocre of Creative Neuroconcepts + Chason Forehand of HR-4U + Mike Ashabraner

Okay, on to some content (then a few more announcements)!

Resilience: What is it? How do we get it?

What do you already believe to be true about Resilience?

• That some people are born with it and some are not?
• That you can grow it or that you can't?
• That it's about what you go through vs. how you go through it?

From the APA (American Psychological Association):

• the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands

From the National Library of Medicine:

• a stable trajectory of healthy functioning after a highly adverse event

From the Cambridge Dictionary:

• the ability to be happy, successful, etc. again after something difficult or bad has happened

From Very Well Mind:

• Instead of falling into despair or trying to escape from issues by using unhealthy coping strategies, resilient people face life's difficulties head-on, with healthy & effective strategies for getting back to their typical level of functioning

From the Timeless Therapist (Sarah Fargo O'Brien):

• figuring out how to bounce back after shit happens; learning to adapt to a new normal after shit happens; digging deep & finding mental fortitude to keep moving forward after shit happens; using all of your available internal & external resources after shit happens

When would we need Resilience?

People with psychological resilience are able to use their skills & strengths to respond to life's challenges, which can include those related to:

• Death of a loved one
• Divorce/Domestic Partnership Break-up
• Financial issues
• Illness/Injury
• Job loss
• Medical emergencies
• Natural disasters

Resilience is what gives people the psychological strength to cope with stress and hardship. It is the mental reservoir of strength that people are able to call on in times of need to carry them through without falling apart. Psychologists believe that resilient individuals are better able to handle adversity and rebuild their lives after a struggle.

Are there different kinds of Resilience?

Short answer: Yes!

• Physical Resilience
• Mental Resilience
• Emotional Resilience
• Social Resilience

Physical Resilience

• refers to how the body deals with change and recovers from physical demands, illnesses, and injuries. Research suggests that this type of resilience plays an important role in health. It affects how people age, as well as, how they respond and recover from physical stress and medical issues.
• Physical resilience is something that people can improve—to a certain extent—by making healthy lifestyle choices. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and engaging in regular body movement are a few ways to strengthen this type of resilience.

Mental Resilience

• refers to a person's ability to adapt to change and uncertainty. People who possess this type of resilience are flexible and calm during times of crisis. They use mental strength to solve problems, move forward, and remain hopeful even when they are facing setbacks.

Emotional Resilience

• refers to an ability to regulate emotions during times of stress. Resilient people are aware of their emotional reactions and tend to be in touch with their inner life. Because of this, they are also able to calm their mind and manage their emotions in healthy & effective, non-harmful ways, when they are dealing with negative experiences. 
• This type of resilience also helps people maintain a sense of optimism when times are tough. Because they are emotionally resilient, they understand that adversity and difficult emotions won't last forever.

Social Resilience

• also called community resilience, involves the ability of groups to recover from difficult situations. It involves people connecting with others and working together to solve problems that affect people both individually and collectively. 
• Aspects of social resilience include coming together after disasters, supporting each other socially, becoming aware of the risks that the community faces, and building a sense of community & connection to others. Such responses can be important during challenges, such as natural disasters, that affect communities or large groups of people.

Here are some (more) announcements & upcoming events:

I am the Chief Mental Health Officer for Circle of Friends Club

I ensure our executive team & members' mental health remain at the forefront of operations, innovations, events, and products. 

COFC Weekly newsletter

-Drops every Friday or Saturday!

-Has complete list of the next week's events

-Link to my LIVE show

The Healing Hour weekly show

-Thursdays (generally)

-11am EST

-Mental Wellness topic

-LIVE on LinkedIn & YouTube

Freedom Fight Expo

-Dec 13 &14

-10 amazing speakers

-Virtual

Check the Circle of Friends Club weekly newsletter for event details and registering

Where can you catch me SPEAKING next month?

I will be speaking at the Neuroglamming December Summit!

Joining a panel discussion on Emotional Intelligence & Resilience :)

Catch me on Dec 5th @ 1pmCST/2pmEST!

Grab your spot today!

Sarah, what ELSE have you been up to?

I started a new role!

I am officially the Director of Student Wellness for Transformation Kitchen!

What is TK?

A culinary training program to assist folks getting a living wage job. 

AND! A percentage of sales from the Neuroglamming Summit goes to support this AMAZING non-profit organization I get to so humbly be a part of. Learn more about TK here!

I've been super busy juggling the many roles and responsibilities I have. Maybe one day I'll list them all out for fun! However, writing is a passion and I did find time to write a new blog this month. I would love for you to read it and let me know what you think!

New blog this month!

Resilience: It's All About the Bounce Back

Also, shop small business this year! In fact, shop small Trauma Informed business. I have digital products and other goodies!

Purchase one of my Compassionate Self Kits (digital download) here

Purchase my Trauma Informed Leader Learning Guide here

Purchase fun affirmation and empowering designs at my Online Shop here

Finally, What does TRAUMA INFORMED mean?

As a Trauma Informed Leader, it's important that I define what Trauma Informed actually means. There are many pseudo definitions that are just not really it. And there are also many pseudo professionals who are just not really it. So here it is:

 Trauma Informed is a HOW, not a WHAT.

It's taking knowledge about trauma and the impact trauma has on people, and using that to inform HOW you interact with others.

 Trauma Informed is application of knowledge and skills to work better with humans. To offer more pathways for safety, and to reduce pathways to harm.

 Trauma Informed is using human-centered communication in our interactions, and trauma responsive awareness in our decision-making, for self and for others.

 Trauma Informed is not a clinical skill, or a psychotherapy skill, or a clinical modality, or intervention. It is a human skill. A people-to-people skill. It can, and should, be used in all places with all people.

And, we're out! Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe! :)

Sending you boundless good vibes, hoping for a healed heart, & wishing you a peaceful nervous system. Take care of yourself, first and always. ❣️

-Sarah