The Power of Resilience

3 qualities that support an open heart and a resilient mind

5 Star review of The Way Forward:

“This is a lovely read. It's a collection of short excerpts that can be enjoyed over several days. It's not a book to be devoured in one sitting; rather, it's meant to be kept somewhere for moments when the reader has time to relax, ponder, and reflect. I thoroughly enjoyed the content and highlighted and dog-eared many pages in my copy!” - Mary

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Resilience is a necessary quality to cultivate at any time in human history, but it feels particularly relevant now that so many sectors of global society are in flux. Between the ups and downs of politics, extreme weather, ongoing wars, economic and social inequality, the changing nature of work, and the coming societal transformation that will be driven by AI, it feels ever more important to center ourselves in the development of internal qualities that will help us handle the waves of change and create spaciousness in the mind.

To create a world that maximizes human flourishing while decreasing harm globally is a goal that cannot be achieved without giving special attention to the internal emotional dynamics of the individual.

Becoming a friend to your own emotions is not only the gateway to happiness, but also the foundation you need to be able to withstand and respond to challenges when they appear. Being able to sit and observe your emotions, without fueling them further, strengthens your inner and outer resilience.

Witnessing the way you personally move between calmness and storms will help you come to terms with the fact that the world does this too.

Living with the understanding that you cannot expect a purely blissful existence and that there will certainly be moments when things feel chaotic will prepare you to face the unwanted with greater resilience.

If more people have an open and compassionate heart that sits in balance with a clear and resilient mind, it will be easier to adjust the trajectory of the future in a brighter direction.  

When you understand how hurt people continue hurting people, it naturally highlights the value of healing and personal growth. People who are working on undoing their trauma and letting go of the heaviness of their past are not perfect by any means, but at the very least they will understand that harm should not be passed forward. Harm that travels from person to person does not just affect individuals, in time it also creates societal discord. People who are healing will at the very least do their best to decrease the harm they cause.

An open heart and a resilient mind do not appear out of nowhere. Their cultivation is rooted in the development of these three essential qualities:

Awareness: Without awareness you will not be able to see yourself. Being able to see yourself clearly helps you see the world around you clearly. Awareness is a muscle that can be strengthened. Developing present moment awareness not only helps breaks mental narratives that are not based in reality, but it helps you have the resilience to engage with your emotional history. Having the ability to point your mind inward and face yourself is a massive victory.

Self-awareness not only helps you meet yourself and understand why your mental conditioning is shaped the way it is, it also helps you fully engage with those who are near you. Presence is the root of connection. Building your self-awareness directly supports your ability to be present with others.