The Resilience Plan

Resilience is not an inherent trait but a cultivated skill that requires strategic planning.

When author Marie-Hélène Pelletier stepped into a rushing river at the end of an exhausting, eight-day hike, she expected the experience to mirror the crossing she and her husband successfully executed at the outset of their adventure. Instead, the river’s fierce current swept her away. Thankfully, her husband was able to rescue her. Upon reflection, the author realized that her failure to acknowledge and adjust to changing external demands made the difference between her first, careful crossing and the less strategic approach that led to her near-fatal fall. Your mental resilience works similarly. Just as your muscles weaken under continuous use, your mental resilience erodes when life’s demands increase.  

Many professionals believe they are resilient and, thus, can handle rising pressures without adjusting their approach. However, by refusing to acknowledge the added challenges’ effects and actively manage their mental well-being, they risk becoming burned out. Before they know it, they’re grappling with ...