A Note About Survival Resources
When we take the time to consider how our survival strategies have been showing up in our lives, we may become aware of how they're not really serving our highest good. Given this newfound knowledge, it can be tempting to try to do everything we can to avoid or let go of our survival strategies.
A Note About Survival ResourcesWhen we take the time to consider how our survival strategies have been showing up in our lives, we may become aware of how they're not really serving our highest good. Given this newfound knowledge, it can be tempting to try to do everything we can to avoid or let go of our survival strategies.(NOTE: If the concept of survival strategies is new to you, check out my previous post on “The Role of Survival Resources in Coping with Stress and Trauma” to learn more.)You may be familiar with the concept of "releasing what no longer serves you." While it's a well-intentioned sentiment, the reality is that we don't simply "release" our survival strategies with conscious intention alone. If we could do that, most of us would probably have done so by now.The hard—but hopefully, liberating—truth is that our survival strategies will naturally begin to soften their grip on us when we no longer need them... and not a moment sooner.Rather than making huge efforts to monitor, avoid, and interrupt our strategies, we can focus on two things that will actually support the transformation we're seeking:#1 - We can gently, gradually introduce generative resources.#2 - We can seek out the support of a trauma-informed coach, therapist, or other practitioner who can skillfully guide us to resolve the underlying impulses that are driving our survival strategies in the first place.My forthcoming workbook focuses on resources, because it's what I'm able to offer in a written format.That said, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to work with a trauma-informed practitioner. There is no replacement for having someone who can witness our hurt, affirm our humanity, and gently guide us toward healing.Ideally, we would engage with both of these approaches at once for the greatest efficacy. Especially because so much of our suffering is caused by relational wounding, having a relationship with a professional who holds you in consistent positive regard, whose sole intention is to support your healing, is absolutely essential.My full workbook on Claiming Your Resources will be released soon. Make sure you’re signed up for my mailing list to receive your copy (just scroll down to the green form beneath this post to subscribe)!Xo, Lindsay
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The Eight Categories of Generative Resources
I can’t wait to share the full workbook, which will support you to expand your awareness of your resources and build your resiliency “toolbox.” The forthcoming Claiming Your Resources workbook has pages for you to fill out on your own, so you can get clear on what resources relate best to your life and your needs.
The Eight Categories of Generative ResourcesAs important as our survival resources can be in helping us deal with stressful circumstances, they generally will not support us to heal, grow, or move forward. The resources that help us survive are rarely the ones that will enable us to thrive. That’s where Generative Resources come in!I’ve identified eight different but interrelated categories of Generative Resources. These categories are as follows: I’ve included an example of each to get you better acquainted with the idea of these distinct categories. Environmental Resources - such as physically connecting with your environment through your five senses. Somatic Resources - such as moving your body in a way that feels good to you.Emotional Resources - such as giving yourself time and space to feel and release emotions.Mental Resources - such as researching or studying a subject you’re passionate about.Interpersonal Resources - such as spending quality time with friends, family, or loved ones.Creative Resources - such as making something with your own hands, whether art, food, etc.Energetic Resources - such as setting healthy boundaries around your time and energy.Spiritual Resources - such as meditation, yoga, prayer, or religious practices. These categories tap into practical, essential aspects of our lives: our environment, our creativity, our relationships, our spirituality, and so on. Once you begin to look around you, you’ll notice that there are ways to resource yourself in nearly every situation. Simply pausing and noticing what you need in the moment is enough to begin your journey toward becoming better resourced and more resilient.I can’t wait to share the full workbook, which will support you to expand your awareness of your resources and build your resiliency “toolbox.” The forthcoming Claiming Your Resources workbook has pages for you to fill out on your own, so you can get clear on what resources relate best to your life and your needs. xo, Lindsay
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How Generative Resources Support Our Healing, Resilience, and Empowerment
When we have the desire to become more resilient, more whole, and more empowered, we tend to be better served by generative resources. Not because they're inherently "better" than survival resources. Rather, because they’re more effective at meeting our needs, building self-trust (rather than self-abandonment), and empowering us to live lives of our own choosing. As a result, we’re able to access a greater sense of connection, agency, vitality, and wellbeing.
How Generative Resources Support Our Healing, Resilience, and EmpowermentIn my last post, we talked about one of the two main categories of resources we can use to cope, called Survival Resources. Survival Resources are resources or skills that have helped us to survive and to cope with stress and trauma, but which may not be generative or healing, and which may keep us feeling stuck over time.In this post, I’d like to introduce you to the second category of resources, one that tends to be more restorative and resilience-building: Generative Resources.As important as our survival resources can be in helping us deal with stressful circumstances, they generally will not support us to heal, grow, or move forward. The resources that help us survive are rarely the ones that will enable us to thrive.Generative Resources are resources that help us to feel nourished, alive, connected, and cared for; they give us a sense of meaning and fulfillment. These are resources that have the potential to help us heal and grow. They are resources that support a sense of integration and wholeness. And importantly, they support connection with ourselves, and often with others.When we have the desire to become more resilient, more whole, and more empowered, we tend to be better served by generative resources. Not because they're inherently "better" than survival resources. Rather, because they’re more effective at meeting our needs, building self-trust (rather than self-abandonment), and empowering us to live lives of our own choosing. As a result, we’re able to access a greater sense of connection, agency, vitality, and wellbeing. In my next post, I’ll break down Generative Resources into eight categories. This is just a tiny sliver of what I’ll be sharing with you in my upcoming Claiming Your Resources workbook, which will be released later this month. Subscribe to my newsletter in the green form beneath this post and you’ll receive a copy once it’s released!xo, Lindsay
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The Role of Survival Resources in Coping with Stress and Trauma
For many of us, our survival resources or coping mechanisms can feel compulsive, habitual, or automatic, like they’re out of our control. We may engage in them, even when we don't really want to. They may alleviate our distress and soothe our nervous systems temporarily, but typically that relief is short-lived. They may even increase our distress in the long run by reinforcing harmful patterns.
The Role of Survival Resources in Coping with Stress and TraumaI mentioned in my last blog post that there are two general categories of resources we can tap into when we need support coping with our experiences: Survival Resources and Generative Resources. Both categories are crucial to finding our resilience and reconnecting with our bodies. So let’s explore in a little more detail! First, what are survival resources? Survival Resources are resources or skills that have helped us to survive and to cope with stress and trauma, but which may not be generative or healing, and which may keep us feeling stuck over time. We might also refer to these as “coping mechanisms” or “survival strategies.” They typically support disconnection.Depending on the individual, some common survival resources may include:
- Regularly going along with other people’s preferences to avoid conflict
- Having really rigid, inflexible boundaries
- Not setting or maintaining boundaries at all
- Avoiding tasks or conversations that are unpleasant, emotional, or intimidating
- Always on the go, rarely slowing down or resting
- Seeking distractions (i.e. compulsive scrolling)
- Obsessing, ruminating, or intense anxiety
- Zoning out, shutting down, or numbing out (could include alcohol or other substances)
- Staying in relationships that are causing you more harm than good
It's easy to view our survival resources and strategies as limiting, problematic, or even bad. But it’s important to recognize that survival strategies are incredibly valuable, in fact life-saving, in traumatic circumstances. There's a really deep intelligence in our survival strategies. They are quite literally what helps us to survive, and to cope internally, with circumstances that would otherwise be intolerable.For many of us, our survival resources or coping mechanisms can feel compulsive, habitual, or automatic, like they’re out of our control. We may engage in them, even when we don't really want to. They may alleviate our distress and soothe our nervous systems temporarily, but typically that relief is short-lived. They may even increase our distress in the long run by reinforcing harmful patterns. While we need survival resources to get us through traumatic experiences, and other critical life moments when we’re not adequately supported, they aren’t always the best resources for the job. In my next post we will explore Generative Resources and the support they can provide. xo, Lindsay
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What Are Resources and Why Do We Need Them?
Very soon I’ll be releasing a free downloadable workbook on my website, called Claiming Your Resources. This workbook will introduce you to resources that will help you not just survive, but thrive. I hope that it will help create a sense of grounding and safety in your body and mind as you navigate these challenging times.
What are resources, and why do we need them?
In case you haven’t been following along on Instagram, I am so excited to introduce you here to something I’ve been working on in the background for the last few months! Very soon I’ll be releasing a free downloadable workbook on my website, called Claiming Your Resources. This workbook will introduce you to resources that will help you not just survive, but thrive. I hope that it will help create a sense of grounding and safety in your body and mind as you navigate these challenging times.What are resources? According to Dr Albert Wong, “Resources are anything that a person can call upon, internal or external, that helps to reestablish a sense of well-being or safety in the world.”Resources don't necessarily have to be physical or even tangible. They can be anything that helps us to cope with what we're experiencing, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.Why might we need to re-establish a sense of well-being or safety? First, if we’ve experienced trauma. Trauma is the lasting emotional response to a distressing event that overwhelms our ability to cope. Trauma can also occur due to a lack of consistent care, attunement, and positive regard in our relationships, especially during our development. Secondly, whenever we’re experiencing stress. Even stress that does not result in trauma can feel overwhelming or unmanageable in the moment. We can think of resources in two general categories: Survival Resources and Generative Resources.In my next post, I’ll go into more detail about the two categories of resources and how you can best utilize them for your self-care. In the meantime, subscribe to my newsletter in the green form beneath this post and you’ll be among the first to receive a copy of the Claiming Your Resources workbook once it’s released!xo, Lindsay
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Claim Your Resources Now!
Join my mailing list and receive a FREE 43-page guide to claiming the unique resources you need to stay resilient while navigating life’s ups and downs (without abandoning your own self-care).You’ll also receive occasional newsletters where I offer guidance on how to move through life with more ease & self-trust, provide opportunities to deepen this work, and share plenty of adorable cat photos!You can unsubscribe at any time.[convertkit form=3207002]