3 Ways to Build Resilience: Military Wife’s Guide to Become Resilient

Raise your hand if the military has ever thrown your family a curveball, and you had to become resilient and adapt. I know I have. Military life is unique and challenging, not only for the service members but also for us, their spouses. 

As a military wife, you play a vital role in supporting your husband, managing your household, and handling the various demands and uncertainties that come with military service. In such a dynamic environment, learning how to become more resilient becomes essential. My goal as a military wife life coach is to help you understand why resilience is important and how to cultivate it to thrive in your environment. And in this blog post, I’m sharing 3 ways to build resilience, so read on!  

Why Resilience Matters for Military Wives

Resilience is the capacity to endure and overcome challenging circumstances, setbacks, and stressors, maintaining a sense of well-being and adaptability in the face of adversity. Resilience is particularly important for military wives because being a military family isn’t a walk in the park.

As you know full well, military life often involves frequent relocations, long deployments, and the uncertainty of your partner’s safety. These factors can lead to increased stress, loneliness, and emotional strain. 

Learning how to become more resilient will help you cope with these challenges more effectively, maintain a positive mindset, and ultimately thrive in the midst of adversity. When you become resilient, you develop the strength and perseverance to navigate the ups and downs of military life while maintaining your well-being and supporting your family.

3 Ways to Build Resilience for Military Wives

1. Become Resilient by Cultivating Relationships

Establishing a strong support network is one of the most effective ways to build resilience. Connect with other military spouses who understand the unique challenges you face. Seek out support groups, both online and offline, where you can share experiences, gain insights, and find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. 

Building relationships with people who can relate to your journey will provide a sense of belonging and emotional support during difficult times. It also ensures you have people to call upon and lean on when your husband is deployed. They say it takes a village to raise kiddos, and that’s even more true when you’re solo parenting for a season. Building your village is an excellent way to build your capacity for resilience.

2. Become Resilient by Embracing Flexibility and Adaptability

I know, I know–it’s easier said than done. But resilience and adaptability go hand-in-hand. Learning how to be more flexible in life will prove vital as you navigate the frequent emotional and physical changes of military life. 

Becoming more flexible and adaptable starts in your mind. Your mindset is what helps develop resilience in the midst of life’s uncertainties. You’ll need to adjust how you think about changed plans–choosing to see them as opportunities rather than inconveniences. Think about it this way: if you’re a planner, a changed plan is just another opportunity to create a new plan–which you’re amazing at doing.

So, practice adjusting your mindset to accept and navigate unexpected circumstances. Focus on finding the positives in each situation and look for opportunities to grow and learn from the challenges you face.

3. Become Resilient by Fostering Emotional Well-Being and Developing Problem-Solving Skills

So much of what helps develop resilience starts in our minds, so taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is crucial. 

• Find healthy ways to cope with stress and manage emotions.
• Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as exercising, practicing mindfulness or meditation, journaling, or pursuing hobbies.
• Prioritize self-care and make time for activities that replenish your energy and boost your mood.

On the other side of the same coin, you can’t just “self-care” your way into resilience. Resilient military wives are proactive in finding solutions to challenges. So, enhance your problem-solving skills by breaking down problems into manageable steps and exploring multiple solutions. Seek guidance from a resilience coach or other military spouses who have faced similar situations. Developing effective problem-solving skills will empower you to navigate obstacles with confidence and resilience.

Tap into Your Inner Resilience with Coaching for Military Wives

Teaching military wives how to become more resilient is my bread and butter. We just discussed 3 ways to build resilience. Now, here are 2 reasons to invest in my resilience coaching program specifically designed to help military wives thrive.

1. I Get You

I have 15+ years of firsthand experience as a military wife. This unique perspective allows me to truly understand the challenges and intricacies you face. In coaching sessions, I offer practical strategies, insights, and support specifically tailored to the needs of military wives based on years of learning and living it. 

2. I Get Resilience

In 2018, as I prepared for Brad’s first deployment, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and at an all-time low. During this time, I discovered Jody Moore’s transformative podcast, Better Than Happy. Remarkably, my life circumstances remained unchanged—Brad was still deployed—yet everything started to feel different.

I witnessed fundamental changes in my life by making small adjustments to my thought patterns. It was precisely what I needed then, and it transformed how I experienced the deployment. The impact was so profound that I decided to launch my own podcast focused on military wife life and become a resilience-focused mindset coach to help other military wives. 

If you want to learn how to become more resilient by prioritizing self-care, setting and achieving goals, and enhancing your well-being, you’re in the right place. Through 1:1 resilience coaching sessions, I will help you establish a strong sense of identity and purpose, leading to personal growth and a greater sense of fulfillment as a military wife. 

Resilience is already inside of you. Let’s have a free mini coaching call to get it out!