Recharging with positive emotions and optimism

War means living in a state of emergency. Constant worry, anxiety, stress, and exhaustion pose a major challenge even for strong women: how to manage their energy, recharge, and stay mentally resilient.

A multi-hour online workshop on December 15th focused on mental resilience—the quality that keeps us robust during difficult times and adaptable in our daily lives so that we do not collapse under the pressure.

For the 14 participants from NGOs and government agencies in Ukraine, the workshop was a welcome and necessary opportunity to break out of isolation and reconnect with colleagues and friends. In addition to insights into stress and resilience theories, there was time for exchanging experiences and short, practical exercises for relaxation and strengthening in everyday life.

Sources of strength

What are the sources of strength for Ukrainian women? Close contact with family and friends, walks by the sea, but also art and theater, and regular evening team meetings to encourage one another.

The feedback from the participants was unanimous: the workshop provided a welcome break from daily life. One participant wrote in the chat that she could now better identify and understand her own reactions and wanted to better implement self-care recommendations. For others, the experience of being valued by other women was significant: "I long for this so much." Above all, however, for many, the workshop meant recharging with positive emotions and optimism, combined with experiencing the strength of women.

The participants rose to the challenge of creating an encouraging phrase using the first letters of their names: "Love, humanity, hope, and resistance are the weapons of victory" and "Love strengthens the nation and Ukraine."