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35 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ • Липень-Cерпень 2022 Ihor Magun, MD, FACP OUR HEALTH As I write this article for the summer is - sue, the world is in a state of great turmoil. Among the things we are confronting are the war in Ukraine, COVID, social unrest, an economy that seems to be heading into recession, and personal issues that are troublesome or annoying. Upon reflection, this is not an unfamiliar state, nor are the resulting feelings, es - pecially for Ukrainian people, who have experienced so much turmoil during the country’s long history. As Ukrainians liv - ing in the diaspora, we face all the cur - rent challenges with a different perspec - tive from that of most non-Ukrainians. This is most likely because we have wit - nessed and experienced various aspects of Ukraine’s struggles before. When we look back, many painful memories resur - face. But one thing that soars above all else is evidence and proof of Ukrainian re - silience. This resilience manifests itself in an ex - traordinary way: Ukraine and Ukrainians have not simply “rolled with the punches” but have learned and even mastered the art of adapting well in the face of signifi - cant stress, adversity, and trauma — con - ditions that we have experienced or wit - nessed for decades. Unfortunately, there seems to be no real end in sight to this sad litany of turmoil. Nonetheless, I be - lieve we are stronger and braver than we thought possible. Despite feeling stressed and exhausted, Ukrainians are not giving up. Instead, they are somehow finding ways to carry on and thrive. In doing so, they exemplify the true meaning of resil - ience. Resilience is a characteristic that grows each time we face a new chal - lenge and manage to succeed. It builds confidence, mostly in our mental strength, and presents the opportunity to be flexible. Above all, resilience has to do with how we perceive a situation. It is a char - acteristic that allows the human spirit to remain hopeful and positive, a major aspect of overcoming obstacles. Being resilient does not mean that one does not feel pain, anger, or other negative emotions. It does mean that these negative emotions and feelings do not consume us. One additional aspect of resilience is that it is a skill that needs to be developed and practiced. A few sug - gestions for honing this skill: • Think of one thing each day that gives you an emotional lift. • Take care of yourself and dedicate at least a small part of the day to practicing or engaging in some aspect of your life that makes you healthy: a nutritious meal, exercise, a good night’s sleep, etc. A corollary to this is stopping or eliminating addictive and un - healthy habits. • Cultivate forgiveness. There are no benefits to holding a grudge. • Stay connected to a support network — individuals who you know are there when and if you need them. Doing this instills a sense of security. • Find purpose in your life. This can be anything from giving back to those who have given to you, to volunteering or similar activities. Doing so will give your life some additional meaning beyond your daily routine and will serve as a reminder that life is much greater than the obstacles one faces. • Know when to ask for help. This is not a weakness; it is a positive and strong response and tool that will help resolve things that need resolving. Our world is in a troubled state, but I would like to end on a positive note. The negative issues that are part of the current state of the world have united us, have made us focus on the value of life, health, friendship, and brotherhood, and have made us more resilient. It is my hope that you incorporate your already existing resilience, pair it with some quality time for rest and relaxation, and discover a way to reboot yourself to take on all the challenges we face. Resilience
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