ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of resilience and moved beyond the popular but narrow view of it as bouncing back from adversity. Resilience can be misconstrued as noble forbearance in the face of pain and suffering: showing emotion is weakness of character. Resilience is actually about managing emotions, not suppressing them. As research shows, resilience is not a fixed characteristic where the person is resilient at all times under all circumstances; the level of resilience demonstrated varies depending upon the circumstances, such as facing adversity alone or with support. Resilience is not developed in social isolation and, extending this point, positive relationships are seen as a key protective factor across the lifespan when tough times arrive. One of the main lessons from the literature on resilience is the importance of facing and dealing with adversity rather than avoiding it or looking for the positives in it before reader have faced and processed it.
