RESILIENCE

What is Resilience?

It is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands. A number of factors contribute to how well people adapt to adversities, predominant among them (a) the ways in which individuals view and engage with the world, (b) the availability and quality of social resources, and (c) specific coping strategies. Psychological research demonstrates that the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced. Also called psychological resilience. Adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology

Media:

Film:  Resilience – KPJR Films

Audio:  Trauma and Resilience Land in Our Bodies - Bessel van der Kolk, The On Being Project

Video:  The Power of Resilience - Brene Brown motivational speech

Books:

The Rabbit Effect (Science of Kindness) by Kelly Harding, MD, MPH

Resilience, 3rd edition, by Southwick, MD, Charney, MD, and DePierro, PhD

The Resiliency Advantage, and The Survivor Personality by Al Siebert, PhD

Expert Tips for Resilience

(Charney and Southwick, 2012)

  • Develop a core set of beliefs that nothing can shake

  • Try to find meaning in whatever trauma has happened and what

  • Try to maintain a positive outlook

  • Take cues from someone who is especially resilient

  • Don’t run from things that scare you: face them

  • Be quick to reach out for support when things go haywire and life is hard

  • Learn new things as often as you can

  • Find an exercise regimen you’ll stick to

  • Don’t beat yourself up or dwell on the past

  • Recognize what makes you uniquely strong-and own it

How to Build Your Resilience:

Resilience is a muscle we can build, even as adults.

How To Build Your Resilience - Experience Life, ebook

Three Roots/Routes to Emotional Resilience - with Chris Johnstone, video

Finding an Authentic Core of Calm Strength - with Dr. Rick Hanson, PhD, video