Resilience: Curated Resources September 4, 2018 04:15

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Learned Optimism: Martin Seligman on Happiness, Depression, and the Meaningful Life from Brainpickings 

A great introduction into Marin's Seligman's Learned Optimism and his essential research and work on explanatory styles. 

What is Self-Efficacy Theory in Psychology? from the Positive Psychology Program  

"While experiences of success certainly make up a large portion of self-efficacy development, there is also room for failure. Those with a high level of self-efficacy are not only more likely to succeed, they are also more likely to bounce back and recover from failure. This is the ability at the heart of resilience, and it is greatly impacted by self-efficacy." An awesome overview and links to additional resources on the topic from our friends at the Positive Psychology Program. 

The Road to Resilience by the American Psychological Association

"How do people deal with difficult events that change their lives? The death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, terrorist attacks and other traumatic events: these are all examples of very challenging life experiences. Many people react to such circumstances with a flood of strong emotions and a sense of uncertainty.

Yet people generally adapt well over time to life-changing situations and stressful conditions. What enables them to do so? It involves resilience, an ongoing process that requires time and effort and engages people in taking a number of steps."

37 Wise & Life-Changing Lessons From The Ancient Stoics by Ryan Holiday
“The private diaries of one of Rome’s greatest emperors, the personal letters of one of Rome’s best playwrights and wisest power brokers, the lectures of a former slave and exile, turned influential teacher… They contain some of the greatest wisdom in the history of the world. These documents—from the likes of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus—constitute the bedrock of what is known as Stoicism, an ancient philosophy that was once one of the most popular civic disciplines in the West, practiced by the rich and the impoverished, the powerful and the struggling alike in the pursuit of the Good Life.”

A Self-Compassion Exercise from The School of Life

"Self-compassion is different from saying you are innocent. It’s trying to be pretty gentle and understanding about why you failed. You’ve been a fool, but you deserve to exist with dignity and to be understood and forgiven. It’s a fundamental right for us all." We love this self-compassion exercise from the School of Life which helps us look at our mistakes from a number of different perspectives.  

Friedrich Nietzsche on Why a Fulfilling Life Requires Embracing Rather than Running from Difficulty from Brainpickings

“The most fulfilling human projects appeared inseparable from a degree of torment, the sources of our greatest joys lying awkwardly close to those of our greatest pains…No one is able to produce a great work of art without experience, nor achieve a worldly position immediately, nor be a great lover at the first attempt; and in the interval between initial failure and subsequent success, in the gap between who we wish one day to be and who we are at present, must come pain, anxiety, envy and humiliation. We suffer because we cannot spontaneously master the ingredients of fulfillment. Nietzsche was striving to correct the belief that fulfillment must come easily or not at all, a belief ruinous in its effects, for it leads us to withdraw prematurely from challenges that might have been overcome if only we had been prepared for the savagery legitimately demanded by almost everything valuable.” – Alain de Botton

The Enchiridion (full text) by Epictetus, Translated by Elizabeth Carter

“Although he was born into slavery and endured a permanent physical disability, Epictetus (ca. 50–ca. 130 AD) maintained that all people are free to control their lives and to live in harmony with nature. We will always be happy, he argued, if we learn to desire that things should be exactly as they are. After attaining his freedom, Epictetus spent his entire career teaching philosophy and advising a daily regimen of self-examination. His pupil Arrianus later collected and published the master's lecture notes; the Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of Epictetus' teachings and an instructional manual for a tranquil life. Full of practical advice, this work offers guidelines for those seeking contentment as well as for those who have already made some progress in that direction.”

Rising Strong by Brené Brown 

You may know Brené Brown from her incredible TED talk on the power of vulnerability (or her equally as moving follow up) but we have to give a little love to her book Rising Strong this month as we explore resilience. Here's an excellent little excerpt: "The most transformative and resilient leaders that I’ve worked with over the course of my career have three things in common: First, they recognize the central role that relationships and story play in culture and strategy, and they stay curious about their own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Second, they understand and stay curious about how emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are connected in the people they lead, and how those factors affect relationships and perception. And, third, they have the ability and willingness to lean in to discomfort and vulnerability." 

WATCH

LISTEN

Student Resilience with Dr. Diana Brecher by Scott Barry Kaufman

“Dr. Brecher is a clinical psychologist who uses cognitive behavioral strategies and positive psychology interventions to buffer students against the pervasive depression and anxiety present in higher education. We talk about her recommendations to increase resiliency, mindfulness, character strengths, self-efficacy, optimism, gratitude, and more. We discuss the mechanisms through which these interventions work, some of the many benefits they promote, how they can be implemented in schools, and some changes in academic culture that can improve student well-being.”

Abdi and the Golden Ticket from This American Life 

"A story about someone who's desperately trying – against long odds – to make it to the United States and become an American. Abdi is a Somali refugee living in Kenya and gets the luckiest break of his life: he wins a lottery that puts him on a short list for a U.S. visa. This is his ticket out. But before he can cash in his golden ticket, the police start raiding his neighborhood, targeting refugees." A moving, powerful story of human resilience, an important lesson in perspective, and one of our all-time favorites. 

The Cathedral from Reply All 

Amy and Ryan Green’s one-year-old son is diagnosed with cancer and begins an agonizing period of treatment. And then, one night in the hospital, Ryan has a strange epiphany: this whole terrible ordeal should be a video game.

Interview with Cheryl Strayed on the Longform Podcast 

A beautiful, honest, and inspiring interview with the author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed. She shares her complicated journey through loss and grief, self discovery, and writing about some of her most difficult moments. This one is worth making time for.