The Resiliency Quiz
Building your resilience is like exercising your muscles; with training you become stronger.
Test how resilient you currently are. Check your answers to the following questions below with the explanations given afterwards to determine how resiliently strong you currently are and where you could benefit from some training.
I. Physiological & Emotional Regulation
(Rate each item on a scale of 1-5. Select the answer that best describes how you respond to stress)
1. I feel overwhelmed once or more times each day.
Less True - 1 2 3 4 5 - More True
2. When something is bugging me, I usually know what it is and why.
Less True - 1 2 3 4 5 - More True
3. I encourage myself in stressful situations just as I’d encourage a friend.
Less True - 1 2 3 4 5 - More True
4. I am able to step back and laugh even when difficult things happen.
Less True - 1 2 3 4 5 - More True
5. Generally, I have healthy coping mechanisms for handling stress.
Less True - 1 2 3 4 5 - More True
II. Thinking Style
(Pick the statement in each pair that most represents your attitude.)
6. When it comes to test taking...
a) If you study hard and prepare well, there is almost never such a thing as an unfair test
b) Teachers often give such random questions that studying too much seems pointless.
7. When it comes to "making it" in life...
a) Success has more to do with hard work than luck.
b) It is more who you know than what you know that counts in life.
8. When it comes to getting along with others...
a) Developing good relationships with others is a skill that can be learned.
b) Some people just can’t form good relationships.
9. When it comes to understanding my part in problems...
a) I have a good sense of accurate personal responsibility in most situations.
b) I often assume the worst in situations and wonder why things have gotten so bad.
III. Meaning in LIFE
(Pick the statement in each pair that most represents your attitude.)
10. When it comes to priorities...
a) Staying happy is my top priority.
b) Sticking to my values is my top priority.
11. When it comes to self-knowledge...
a) I know my self, my strengths, and my preferences pretty well.
b) My sense of my self, my strengths, and my preferences seems to vary a lot.
(Complete the following sentence with the response that most closely matches how you currently think.)
12. I am looking for something that makes my life meaningful…
a) In time, but right now I am just seeking fun.
b) Yes, but not sure what it is or how to find it.
c) No, life does not really hold any big meaning, so why waste time looking?
d) Yes, I am pursuing something right now that is very meaningful to me.
Resiliency Quiz Explanations
Questions 1 – 5: These questions assess your current physiological and emotional responses to stressful situations. We all face problems and experience stress. If you are frequently overwhelmed or unhappy with how you handle stress, then it is time to improve this important area of your personal resilience profile. Relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness skills can greatly improve your ability to handle stress. Research also reveals that you can build greater resilience by artfully identifying and conveying emotions while treating yourself and others with compassion.
Questions 6 – 9: These questions examine your thinking style. Choosing option “a” suggests more resilience. Remember, these questions ask about your attitude. Resilient individuals think their actions matter and that they can function effectively. They also know the importance of developing good interpersonal skills for managing relationships— including the inevitable relationships we all must have with prickly or insensitive people.
Questions 10 – 12: These questions assess your sense of purpose in your life. This purpose might include spiritual beliefs as well as humanitarian values. Research shows there is a powerful connection between the pursuit of a positive purpose and life satisfaction. Purpose and meaning protect against depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, research also shows that the majority of people, especially those under age 30, have not developed this important contributor to resilience. Using my Structured Resilience Assessment™(SRA), I can work with you to fortify this important area of your personal resilience profile.