Practicing Resilience:
Mindset and Habits for Sales Success
Why Resilience Matters in Uncertain Times
Right now, we are all experiencing something unprecedented. Although this is a collective human experience, how we respond to these changes varies wildly.
There is no road map for navigating these uncertain times, but there are things we can do that science, research, and experience tell us can help.
Before we talk about what we can do, it’s worth spending some time understanding why it’s so easy to find ourselves feeling like we’re not coping.
Humans have developed extraordinary ways of coping in crisis, and not all of them are particularly helpful.
We are hard wired to remember the bad stuff more vividly
It’s just the way our brains work. We store bad, scary, and stressful experiences more vividly. This is simply because the emotions we feel in these times are so strong. We often react without thinking; it’s unconscious.
Fear is persistent
Right now, there are so many things to be frightened of. We are being bombarded with expert opinion, data and personal experiences that tell us this is scary stuff.
Added to that are our own personal fears: how will I cope if I lose my job? How do I work from home and take care of my children? What if…?
When we don’t have hard facts, we simply fill in the gaps, and this is where the true potential lies.
A Resilient Mindset: Growth vs Fixed Perspective
Practicing resilience starts with our own thinking and the story we choose to create and fill those gaps with.
You give power to what you give your attention to.
This starts with our thinking. Resilience is not about avoiding the scary stuff, it’s about coping with it in a healthier way.
So, what does healthy look like?
Focusing on what you can do really helps. Dr Carole Dweck is the leading authority on mindset. For every experience, we choose how we respond.
A Growth mindset is all about finding the positives, whereas a Fixed mindset is when we believe we have little or no control over our destiny.
It’s easy to understand why, in times like these, many of us feel out of control. Developing a Growth mindset is a habit we have to practice.
Developing Resilient Habits
A habit is simply something we repeat. It has a trigger that we respond to and there is a reward for the action we take. We drink coffee when we wake up to feel ready for the day. We grab a glass of wine or a beer when we want to reward ourselves for surviving a busy or hard day.
The resilience habits
We have already established that we give power to the things we give our attention. Habits are simply the things we choose to give our attention to.
We have established eight habits that, when we give them our attention, help us to cope better in difficult times. These are not exclusive to our work or personal lives, it’s about the choices you make every minute of the day.
The eight healthy habits:
- Ask for help
This can be tough when we are being asked to work in different ways. The things that make us feel safe might have been removed – the colleague we sit next to, access to systems, and even our own desk. Being vulnerable and asking for help is not only healthy for us, but it makes it easier for others to do the same.
- Accept imperfection
When we are anxious about things it is often paralyzing and we feel the need to get things absolutely right. In reality, resilience is all about trying things to see what works, so perfect just isn’t helpful.
- Choose healthy
We cope better with what the world throws at us when we are fueled up, hydrated, and have energy – what are you doing to keep healthy? Think small and consistent – remember we don’t need perfect.
- Find laughter
This is an art that takes conscious practice. Whether it’s looking at cat videos on YouTube or setting yourself a challenge to learn a new joke a day, do something that makes you smile and ideally get others involved.
- Be kind
Acts of kindness work wonders on our nervous system – you literally get a high from doing good things. Again, start small, say thank you more, and mean it. To mean it, really think about what you are saying thank you for.
- Act before you are ready
This is a close partner of accepting imperfection – plan for failure, it makes it easier to pick yourself up. Resilient people don’t make fewer mistakes, they just don’t dwell on them.
- Look for the silver lining
You are stuck at home with the kids. That means their memory of this will be having you home more! You can’t go to work, so you get that commute time back to do something for you! It’s all about looking for the good stuff.
- Learn from mistakes
Failure can really help when you get your head around it. Take time to think about what happened and what you can do differently. That customer didn’t understand why we need to do this and that’s fine, so now how do we change the explanation for next time?
Resilience is our biggest weapon against stress, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Pick a habit, give it a go and feel better.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Practicing Resilience
What does practicing resilience mean in challenging times?
Practicing resilience means developing ways of thinking and behaving that help you cope more healthily with uncertainty and stress. Rather than eliminating fear or difficulty, you focus your attention on constructive responses, build new habits, and choose stories that leave you feeling more in control and able to adapt.
Why do we often feel like we’re not coping during crises?
We often feel we’re not coping because our brains are wired to store bad, scary, and stressful experiences more vividly. Fear is persistent, news is overwhelming, and when facts are missing we fill gaps with worst‑case scenarios, which can amplify anxiety and a sense of helplessness
How does mindset influence resilience in difficult situations?
Mindset influences resilience by shaping how you interpret events and your sense of control. A growth mindset looks for positives and learning, while a fixed mindset assumes little control over destiny. In uncertain times, consciously choosing a growth mindset helps you respond more constructively and feel less overwhelmed.
What role do habits play in practicing resilience?
Habits play a central role in practicing resilience because they are repeated responses to triggers that deliver emotional rewards. Since “you give power to what you give your attention to,” deliberately building healthy habits channels your attention toward behaviors that support coping, recovery, and better emotional balance.
Why is asking for help considered a resilient habit?
Asking for help is a resilient habit because it acknowledges vulnerability and connects you to support when usual routines and safeguards are disrupted. It’s healthy for you and signals to others that it’s acceptable to seek assistance, creating a more open, supportive environment for everyone.
How does accepting imperfection support resilience?
Accepting imperfection supports resilience by freeing you from paralysis caused by the need to get everything exactly right. Resilience is about trying, adjusting, and learning what works, not achieving perfection. When you plan for failure and move anyway, it becomes easier to bounce back from setbacks.
In what ways do kindness and laughter strengthen resilience?
Kindness and laughter strengthen resilience by positively affecting your nervous system and emotional state. Small acts of kindness create a natural “high,” while deliberately finding reasons to laugh or smile lightens your mood. Both habits shift attention from fear and stress toward connection and shared humanity.
How can learning from mistakes improve resilience over time?
Learning from mistakes improves resilience by turning failures into sources of insight rather than reasons for self‑criticism. Reflecting on what happened and how you might respond differently next time helps you adapt. Over time, this mindset makes setbacks less threatening and builds confidence in your ability to cope.
