x In research literature, resilience has been conceived as a buffering process, one that may not
eliminate risks or adverse conditions but does help individuals deal with them effectively. However, as author and
researcher Dr. Emmy Werner has suggested, resilience may also reflect the concept of "reserve capacity." That is, a
resilient mindset helps us prepare for future adversity and enables the potential for change and continued personal
growth throughout our lives... we believe that developing a resilient mindset will serve us well in every aspect of ordinary
living - in all the roles we play and in all our interactions with others... a resilient mindset provides a basic foundation
and reservoir of... strength that can be called on to manage daily challenges.
p.3 the word resilient... is a concept that should be expanded to become a primary focus
of each person's life... All of us encounter some degree of... challenge in everyday life... Resilient individuals
are those who have a set of assumptions or attitudes about themselves that influence their behaviors... Possessing
a resilient mindset [implies] that one can successfully cope with problems as they arise.
p.20 Once we have developed the features associated with a resilient mindset and lifestyle, we cannot sit
back and assume that our mindset and behaviors will go into automatic pilot. Expected and unexpected challenges emerge
that will test our ability to be resilient.
The more we understand the characteristics of resilient individuals, the more we can engage
in daily and long-term "exercises" to maintain and even strengthen a resilient mindset... so too must we have a "resilience
plan" to ensure as much as possible that our future will be filled with satisfaction and accomplishment.
p.35 One of the hallmarks of the resilient mindset is the ability to view mistakes or failures as
experiences from which to learn rather than to feel defeated.
p.48 People who have a resilient mindset reflect on what they can do differently when confronted with challenges.
The ability to recognize and modify negative scripts serves as a basic foundation for a resilient lifestyle...
The more we can accept realistic ownership for what transpires in our lives, the more empowered and resilient we will become.
p.111 Obstacle Three: Losing sight of How Best to Achieve Your Goals
p.143 Establishing realistic expectations and goals for oneself... is a lifelong task and an integral component
of pursuing a resilient lifestyle... "Let's examine your strengths, vulnerabilities, and interests, and then we can begin
to define your goals, you can regularly assess whether your expectations have been set too high or too low and make appropriate
modifications. No goals are set in stone; rather, they are open to change."
p.203 once you have selected a new plan, anticipate the possible obstacles to success. The more
prepared you are for obstacles that may arise, the better equipped you will be to manage those obstacles in a constructive
manner in concert with a resilient mindset.
p.218 As we examine the mindset of resilient people in terms of their attributions or assumptions about
success, it is important to emphasize a metaphor we use in our work: islands of competence. Resilient individuals
never minimize or deny their problems and can identify their islands of competence, or strengths.
p.267 Imagine if Peg Phillips [actor on American TV series "Northern Exposure"] could
have counseled Ponce de Leon. She would have informed him that the fountain of youth does not reside in an illusory
spring of water but rather in the reality of minds filled with dreams and hope, challenges and achievements, and a mindset
of attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that can be best attained through the power of resilience.