How to Build Resilience in Yourself and Others

Resilience isn’t something you either have or don’t—it can be developed, strengthened, and passed on. In communities facing war, displacement, trauma, or injustice, resilience becomes more than a virtue—it is a life-sustaining strategy. Whether working with youth, leading change, or supporting communities, here are three foundational strategies to build and sustain resilience, along with actionable ways to put them into practice.

1. Cultivate Belonging: Anchor resilience in relationships

What it means: 

Belonging creates emotional safety. It buffers individuals against stress, builds identity, and allows people to take healthy risks. 

Lessons from the field: 

  • Ukrainian youth find solidarity in coffee shared silently at 9am, or a shared power bank after an air raid.
  • Social cohesion is strongly linked to a community’s ability to rebuild after crisis.

Actionable strategies:

  • Design group processes (facilitations, youth programs, team meetings) that prioritize connection before content—start with check-ins, story circles, or appreciative interviews.
  • Encourage peer mentoring—especially in high-stress or transitional times.
  • Celebrate micro-contributions. Recognition fosters inclusion and reinforces a sense of shared purpose.

Supporting research: 

According to the World Economic Forum and Interpeace, strong “horizontal social ties” (peer-to-peer trust) are more important for resilience than even formal authority. 

2. Foster Purpose: Create a reason to keep going

What it means: 

Purpose turns pain into fuel. It helps people make meaning out of suffering and move forward despite obstacles.

Lessons from the field: 

  • Ukrainian teens like Mariia find strength in the dream of rebuilding their country, or helping others through education.
  • Edith Eger, Holocaust survivor, taught us that even the worst circumstances can reveal our inner resources.

Actionable strategies:

  •  Ask purpose-driven questions like “What do you care about most right now?” or “What is one way you want to make a difference?” 
  •  Help individuals identify strengths and use them in service of others—volunteering, mentoring, or storytelling.
  • Link personal experiences to larger movements (e.g., civic engagement, peacebuilding, justice).


Supporting research: 

Psychological studies consistently show that purpose is a protective factor against depression, trauma, and burnout—particularly among youth and people in crisis (source: American Psychological Association). 

3. Promote Voice and Agency: Let people participate in shaping the future

What it means: 

Resilience grows when people have the power to act. Voice and agency help individuals feel in control, even when much around them isn’t.

Lessons from the field: 

  • In Lviv, youth-led initiatives don’t compete for recognition—they model solidarity without rankings, letting each city and individual contribute in their own way. 
  • Civic participation is critical in recovery—from war to climate disasters.

Actionable strategies:

  • Involve people (especially youth) in co-designing solutions, rather than just asking for input. 
  •  Normalize failure and experimentation. Try “low-stakes” decisions they can own fully. 
  •  Create platforms for people to speak, publish, or present their ideas—community forums, blogs, youth councils.

Supporting research: 

The UN Youth, Peace and Security report emphasizes that youth participation in peacebuilding not only improves resilience but prevents conflict recurrence. Communities that include youth in decisions are better positioned to sustain peace (UNSCR 2250). 

Putting It All Together

True resilience isn’t built in a vacuum. It emerges in the overlap of belonging, purpose, and voice—where people feel safe, know why they matter, and are given the space to act. Whether you’re supporting one person or a whole community, start by asking: 

“Where can I create space for connection, meaning, and choice?” 

Join An Upcoming Community of Practice

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Do you have a meeting, workshop, or event coming up that you are facilitating and need advice on? Would you have won a gold medal for your amazing facilitation and think others could benefit from learning what you did? 

Our FREE monthly Community of Practice is the perfect space to learn, share, and grow together! It’s kind of like free professional development. You don’t have to be a formal facilitator – if you are convening groups, leading meetings, or implementing projects and plans, this is a valuable time to get advice, give advice, and learn from members of the HueLife community. After all, HUE is all about human understanding and engagement! 

 📅 When: Every fourth Wednesday of the month* from 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT 

 🌍 Where: Online via Zoom

* Exception: In July and December when we will not host our traditional virtual Community of Practice. Instead, we will host special hybrid events based in Minneapolis where you will have an opportunity to learn and network in person! 

Bring your real-world challenges and questions—whether they’re broad (“How do I improve my facilitation skills?”) or specific (“I’m facilitating ____ and need advice on using ____ method.”)—and gain insights from a community eager to support and learn from one another. 

Even if you’re just curious about facilitation, you’re welcome to join! 

We look forward to seeing you in the Zoom room!

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