Resilience: How to activate and strengthen our innate capacity through somatic practices

By María López

We are all resilient. You too.

Resilience is not something we have to “earn”, because we are born with it. However, sometimes life experiences make this ability seem distant, unfamiliar. The good news is that we can cultivate and strengthen it over time.

Resilience is often thought of as the ability to “get back up” after a fall. And it’s true, but from a somatic perspective – that is, paying attention to the body – resilience is much more than that. It’s not just about recovering, but also learning how to move from stress or activation to self-regulation, to staying present with our sensations, emotions, and thoughts while feeling safe, grounded, and connected to others.

Our body plays a critical role in how we process challenges and return to a state of well-being.

Resilience is not the same as survival

We often confuse resilience with survival strategies. I did it myself and I’m still learning.

He used to repeat to me: “I’m fine, I can handle this.” That phrase gave me the strength to keep going, to do what I had to do and to pretend that nothing was happening.

But over time I understood that this was not resilience: it was survival. I was ignoring my emotions, disconnecting from myself and others. It seemed strong on the outside, but I felt lonely and exhausted inside.

Somatic work taught me another way of being: giving myself more space to feel, asking for help when I need it, and letting others accompany me. Now I feel more connected to myself and to the people I love the most. Resilience doesn’t isolate me; it brings me closer.

Survival strategies are useful in critical moments, but resilience is different: it allows us to stay present, feel what’s happening, and stay connected to a sense of safety and possibility.

How to cultivate resilience from the body

We all carry the seed of resilience within us and, like any seed, it needs care to grow. Somatic practices are a way to remind the body what it feels like to be in resilience, so that we can return to that state when we need to.

Some simple and powerful ways to nurture it are:

• Spend time in nature: Let its rhythms root us.
• Explore creativity: Art, dance or music to process emotions and reconnect with joy.
• Spending time with animals: Their company brings us calm and presence.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships: At least a positive and deep bond gives us a sense of support.
• Helping others: Giving also connects us to our sense of purpose.
• Practice spirituality: Rituals, meditations or prayers that sustain us.
• Join collective experiences: Singing, movement or meetings that reinforce the sense of belonging.

Now it’s your turn: What makes you feel resilient?

When was the last time you asked yourself this?

When you identify something that makes you feel resilient, try this:

• Revive it in your body: What sensations appear? How do you know that was resilience? Stay there for a moment and let it grow.
• Repeat it intentionally: Make time for activities that awaken that feeling and pay attention to what is happening in you.

In my case, I walk by the river once a week. Observing the water, seeing how the light changes creating lights and shadows, and paying attention to the impact it all has on my body and mind.

Resilience, wellness, and healing

Resilience is not a destiny; it is an internal resource that we can strengthen every day. With somatic and practical awareness, we have the possibility of returning to a state of well-being and connection, even in difficult times.

En el curso Embodied Transformation de Strozzi Institute for Somatics, descubrirás distintas prácticas para desarrollar la capacidad de estar presente y cultivar esa resiliencia que ya vive en ti. Un retiro experiencial de cuatro días en una masía señorial con más de cinco siglos de historia que te permitirá desconectar de las exigencias diarias para conectar con el cuerpo en un entorno natural. Si quieres seguir profundizando en esta metodología y aprender cómo encarnar un liderazgo más consciente y humano, este curso es para ti.

María López is a Certified Somatic Coach by Strozzi Institute, Executive Coach, and Team and Relational Systems Coach.

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