Cody Garbrandt talks resilience

If there’s something that everyone can agree on, it’s that losing is difficult.

Studies have shown that apparently when something negative happens it causes an electrical spike in the brain. And the result means the brain makes us give more emotional and physical weight after losing when compared with winning. Trying to deal with losing no matter how big or small is never a straightforward path. But, by developing resilience, it can be made slightly easier.
One of our GK ambassadors, Cody Garbrandt recently lost against Rob Font but his words stand stronger than the defeat. Cody told Lowkick MMA “A lot of positives come from this. [I’ll] brush it off. Get back with my coaches and teammates and we’re still striving to be the best, to be world champions.” “Sometimes there’s adversity that comes along in your dreams and makes you work harder, makes you realise what needs to be done and it makes it that much sweeter when you climb up the mountain.” “ It wasn’t my night, [but] i’ll correct my mistakes and i’m just really thankful… I fight my heart out for you guys.”
 Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. Cody will be back and here at GK we will be with him each and every step of the way. 
Over the years here at GK we are still learning how to be resilient, but we’ve put together 5 tips to help you the next time something negative may happen.
  1. Maintaining a sense of perspective. Keeping a sense of perspective is key when developing resilience. Focusing on the big picture can help you remember on tough days why you are doing what you’re doing. Then by combining this with the small details, it  will allow you to maintain focus and concentration. This method creates sustainable resilience.
  2. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good and who will help you grow. The more we’re alone with ourselves, the more we overthink and over analyse. But when we surround ourselves with people who inspire us and motivate us to match their work ethic, resilience comes naturally. “If you want to go far, go together”.
  3. Believing in your own ability to overcome hardships and guide your own destiny. Countless researchers have stated that there is a clear connection between having optimism and developing resilience. If you BELIEVE you have the abilities to succeed in a situation, then you are more likely to be able to handle the pressure of that situation with ease.
  4. Putting yourself under some stress. Now don’t get us wrong this isn’t a sign to fill your glass to the brim, but research has shown that putting yourself in some regulated stressful situations over time can be a great learning experience. 
  5. Being flexible and adaptable. Adapting to difficult situations is a key part in developing resilience. As a result this will form a growth mindset, making you more adaptable and promoting resilience. 
Whichever method you choose, we know that with the right mindset you’ll be able to nail it.