Without Farewell: The Need for Emotional Agility

In these challenging and altogether disruptive times from the current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, we must endure an outbreak that many of us have not seen before. Unable to visit friends, interact with relatives, work out at the gym, or simply shop for food without wearing a mask, life has changed. We have observed the sudden flare of a virus that abruptly broke into private and public life, tested world-class healthcare facilities, and given routine to the new practice of social distancing. 

​Influential voices of culture as Bill Gates even stated several years ago in his widely acclaimed TedTalk that, “There’s no need to panic… but we need to get going” and announced that we were not prepared for another outbreak as much “scenario planning, vaccine research, and healthcare training” were needed. Yet, many concluded that another pandemic would arise for a future day. Following suit with the current health crisis in this pandemic, most states including our own have chosen school closure to weaken the effects of the virus. 

For the Class of 2020, approximately 3.7 million high school seniors continue to experience a variety  of emotions that include: sadness, anxiety, and anger. A school year which began with enthusiasm and hope for the future now becomes confronted with worry and disbelief. We can look to others to motivate us onward when we lose our own sense of flair. Personal stories of resilience have encouraged multitudes. These life narratives cause listeners to consider the strength and value of decisive actions to press forward in their journey. Recent events with a pandemic and its global footprint, alongside a gradual economic recession, are context for urgency in developing vision for resilience. 

During critical seasons that demand greater personal resilience, emotional agility is needed to navigate the  emotional experiences of a rapidly evolving and complex global community. Dr. Susan David, a psychologist originally from South Africa, demonstrates principles for this novel concept of emotional agility in her TedTalk and additional reflections on her show Checking In. 

​Research from the University of London has been able to demonstrate that emotional agility will provoke individuals to meaningfully respond to stress, make strides in job performance, reduce work-related errors, and become examples in their field. Dr. David describes this call to emotional agility as that “which enables people to approach their inner experiences in a mindful, values-driven, and productive way rather than buying into or trying to suppress them. The process isn’t about ignoring difficult emotions and thoughts. It’s about holding those emotions and thoughts loosely, facing them courageously and compassionately, and then moving past them to make big things happen in your life.” 
​
Class of 2020, and all students affected by this pandemic, here are several important considerations in choosing resilience and establishing the building blocks of emotional agility: 
​

• Remember that there is much about this virus that has caused uncertainty with the unknown. We have a tendency to get distracted from what cannot be understood. We can shift the focus with self-awareness and personal insight. It is possible to get unstuck and move toward change and progress. 
• Learn to accept unpredictability. Adapted from principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, choose to label your thoughts and emotions and determine to view them as changing and temporary rather than permanent patterns of personal information during this pandemic. For example, when feelings of loneliness and withdrawal hijack healthy routines because of an extended quarantine, accept that change is necessary and take action toward realizing your goals.
• Emotional agility will be key to well-being in crises. It provides a road map for navigating challenging emotions, enhancing joy in our relationships, moving toward personal goals, and flourishing in adversity. We are called to adapt in every changing situation rather than being frozen in anger, fear, and anxiety.
• You have control over how you live everyday and what qualities you bring. When we choose how we respond to our circumstances, we can also learn skill sets related to loosening up, calming down, and becoming more intentional. Even though we face many trials, commit errors, and suffer setbacks - we can still choose emotional agility. 
• Personal change can occur in pressure. Growth alongside freedom will take place when we respond to challenges. Engaging in a complex, ever-evolving, global community within our digital revolution requires flexibility, honesty, and vulnerability in order to tolerate high stress levels and endure misfortunes.  
• Journaling will be a great and encouraging tool. Sometimes we lose perspective when we move through difficult circumstances. The exercise of writing out our thoughts and moods will be important to pass through emotional pain and hardship as well as describe, make sense of, and process the experience.​

In many ways, developing personal resilience has been a timely challenge for our Mustang community since this is ultimately dependent upon how we move through setbacks, obstacles, and oppositions. Either we climb the mountain of difficulty to victory or become held back by adversity. Dean Becker, President and CEO of Adaptiv Learning Systems, cites his observations when delivering trainings and programs on personal resilience, “More than education, more than experience, more than training, a person’s level of resilience will determine who succeeds and who fails. That’s true in the cancer ward, it’s true in the Olympics, and it's true in the boardroom.” 

Resilient individuals find and experience meaning, pursue core values, and maintain a strong capacity for perseverance in their life circumstances. Truly anyone can bounce back from hardship and problematic circumstances with just one or two of these character qualities, but resilience requires all three according to the current landscape. During times of deep recessions, resilience becomes a necessary ingredient more so than before to rebuild oneself from sinking further into despair or a greater loss of confidence. This becomes possible through vision for emotional agility. 

​A heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2020!!!