ABSTRACT
Ordinary people can show extraordinary resilience when trying to rebuild their shattered lives. The directors were paying large fees to motivational speakers who did climbed mountains, sailed round the world or won gold medals at the Olympic Games. These speakers had chosen those goals and had support teams to help them prepare for what they knew lay ahead, whereas these ordinary individuals had no warning of, or preparation for, the mighty blow that was to hit them. The long, hard struggle to rebuild their lives and find within themselves the determination to do this was arguably a more awe-inspiring and interesting form of courage than the headline-dominating kind. Expressing resilient attitudes is easier than demonstrating them in action. A resilient response to adverse events is not devoid of emotion. Self-belief embraces compassionate self-acceptance as a fallible human being.
