Let’s be honest, things feel a bit wobbly right now. Even if you’re not glued to the news, you’ve probably felt the rising tension. The economy, the climate, the general sense of not knowing what’s next… it all builds up. It filters into our workplaces, our families, and our sense of personal stability. And while a bit of caution is certainly warranted, what we don’t need right now is more panic or pressure. We need calm. We need clarity. And we need to focus on what we can control because there is so much still within reach.
What is Psychological Capital?
Psychological Capital is about cultivating the internal strengths that help us not only cope, but grow through uncertainty. It’s made up of four core ingredients:
Hope – setting goals and believing we can find our way.
Efficacy – having the confidence to take action.
Resilience – bouncing back and learning from setbacks.
Optimism – a grounded belief that the future can be better.
This is absolutely distinct from toxic positivity. It’s not about telling yourself or the people around you to “be happy” or “stay strong.” It’s about acknowledging the messiness of life and teaching people how to cope with awareness and agency.
The hills that go up must also come down
Recently, I walked a section of the South West Coast Path in the UK with a group. If you know it, you’ll know the terrain is not gentle. It’s a series of relentless climbs and descents that are breathtakingly beautiful but physically and mentally demanding. What struck me was how much it mirrored life.
Some days we powered through every hill. Other days, one or two of us needed to pause, stop early, take a different path, or just cry, breathe, and be held by the group. And that was okay. We supported each other. We let go of perfection. No one said, “You have to keep up or you’ve failed.” Because the truth is, it’s not about getting to the finish line looking perfect. It’s about being real, being human, and turning up as best you can with what you’ve got. In our hyper-curated, over-scheduled world, that kind of flexibility is rare, but it’s everything.
Stop doomscrolling. Start grounding.
I don’t know about you, but the snippets of news I’ve caught lately have made me feel anxious and out of control. And that’s coming from someone who usually leans into a challenge and embraces uncertainty. But that constant drip-feed wears us down, so I took a break. I stopped reading the news. I stepped outside.
Getting outdoors does something powerful; it resets your nervous system, grounds you, and gives you perspective. Nature rebuilds us. It doesn’t need you to be perfect, it just asks you to turn up. And if the idea of an outdoor challenge scares you a little? That might be a sign that you’re ready for it. Because when you step into a challenge by choice and decide to face something that stretches you, you build psychological capital. You grow your strength remember you’re capable of far more than you thought.
What is within your control?
You can’t fix the global economy. You can’t predict the news cycle. But you can choose to build strength and connection. You can:
Take a break from news and social media.
Go outside for a walk – or better yet, a proper adventure.
Share meals with people you care about.
Create calm in your home and workplace.
Look around and ask, “Who’s in my corner? How can I support them too?”
Humans aren’t meant to bunker down alone. The best way to get through tough times is together and challenge, done right, builds that collective strength.
Want to build Psychological Capital in your workplace?
You can do all these things individually and we highly encourage that. But workplaces have a powerful opportunity right now to do this together. If you’re looking to build resilience, foster real wellbeing, and create a more engaged team, we’d love to support you. At Take Shape Adventures, we help teams grow through challenge, connection, and nature-based experiences. If you’re interested in building psychological capital for yourself or your team, let’s talk. Get in touch with us HERE or check out our Team Adventure webpage HERE.
