Resiliency In The US Economy

With 15 million people out of work, most people want to just give up. This article examines how resiliency can separate you from the competition to gain greater employability. In this financial crisis, most people are easily discouraged. According to the Census Bureau, only 55.3% of people between 16 and 29 were employed in 2010, on average (that's a significant drop from 67.3% in 2000). For a historical perspective, unemployment for this age group was the highest since World War II. Additionally, investors across the world are panicking and believe a new recession is coming. The U.S. economy has grown at an annual rate of .7% in the first half of the year, which is the slowest growth since June 2009. For millions, the economy presents a hopeless

Resiliency can be defined as "an occurrence of rebounding or springing back." This characteristic is a close cousin to mental toughness, which can be defined as "the character attribute that allows an individual to stay in control while confronting adversity and navigating obstacles in life." Anchored in these two character builders, individuals have the mental strength to press on through adversity. This mentality can be seen scripturally in Corinthian 4:8, 9: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

Yet, an economic downturn can tank anyone's confidence, especially the laid-off and unemployed. Regardless of the situation, things could get much worse. The ultimate defeat is simply giving up. Therefore, it's important to do something constructive each day. It's critical to surround yourself with a positive network that encourages an environment of resiliency. In the absence of any outside positive support system, that individual must feed upon his or her own internal compass and positive self-talk to propel himself into a positive future.