The ability of people to cope and adjust may be
termed human resilience. Resilience is a convenient (but nonclinical) term for
describing the ability of an individual or community to recover, spring back,
or return to a previous level of stability after encountering problems or
stresses.
Recognize and respect the barriers that hold people
back in their freedom to recover from emotional shock. Culture, history,
community values, geographical location, and political context profoundly
affect the resilience of individuals and their communities.
Assist people in expressing and clarifying their
concerns. Assist people in being their own active agents in preventing, coping
with, and recovering from their problems, stressors, and shocks. Be a
nonjudgmental resource to assist them in regaining their sense of self-determination
and stability.
Promote and support the growth and empowerment of
individuals, families, and communities. Reward and reinforce the smallest acts of
virtuous, ethical behavior. Challenge and actively attempt to reform inadequate
or unjust systems and policies. Let the world be your country. Let all
humankind be your family. Let truth, justice, nonviolence and doing good be
your religion.
Through our loving, ethical actions to individuals
and across the world, we can serve and promote the rights and well-being of all.
As we heal others, we will heal ourselves.
Will Walsh