Resilience-promoting mindsets – This is a phrase I developed when pouring through decades of research on the topic of resilience. Although I had not seen this term referenced anywhere in the literature, it made logical sense to me after noticing that predictable thought patterns are demonstrated by individuals who exhibit habits of overcoming in their lives. Positive cognitive appraisals are observable through how people speak about their problems. How people conceptualize the struggles they face as well as their self-evaluation of if they feel capable of managing their stressors will be expressed through their words. Negative self-talk is a hallmark of a defeated mindset, and this will not fare well when that person is faced with crushing circumstances that exceed their view of their own capabilities. The good news is that negative mindsets can be successfully overcome in ways that empower people towards competence and overcoming, even if their previous thought patterns reflected self-imposed limits or self-sabotage.
The field of psychology was initially built upon the appraisals of negative cognitions as being the primary reason for psychopathology; the way people thought made them sick or kept them sick. The focus on mental illness further enforced the field of psychology’s hyper-focused vision on problems and pathologies. Thankfully, a shift away from this deficit model built upon everything that is wrong with human beings, their psyches, and their behaviors began to occur, puncturing the dark clouds that hung heavily over the profession. As new light broke through the clouds, new theories emerged incorporating strengths-based ideologies, solution-oriented theoretical orientations, and growth-focused initiatives. This shift replaced the primarily negative focus with a more positive one, offering hope instead of status quo. The psychological nomenclature even softened, with conversations starting to revolve around ‘mental health’ instead of solely on ‘mental illness.’ As researchers and clinicians approached mental health more positively, the stigma of seeking therapy also lifted. The idea of transforming negative cognitive appraisals into positive ones is at the core of successful therapy and the field of psychology had to undergo that same transformation in order to usher that in for those seeking help.
The essence of resilience is reflected in this exact cognitive shift, as it seeks to empower people to refuse to accept the defeat that might be associated with certain adversities. Resilient individuals possess mindsets that hail specific hallmarks. Overall, the resilient mindset allows individuals room to grow. It is simultaneously fully grace-giving (not condemning someone for not having the current skills to overcome) while also being goal-infusing (energizing someone to not get stuck in poor ways of thinking). The lack of self-condemnation over their struggles frees resilient individuals from wasting valuable energy beating themselves up. Instead, they used this mental energy for constructive ends. The infusion of hope they feel from resilient thinking empowers resilient individuals to consider the what if’s involved with positive outcomes. While fixed-mindset individuals refuse to risk stepping out in something new out of fear of failing, sabotaging their own efforts without ever trying, growth-mindset individuals are buffered from fear of failing because their focus on growth enables them to continue to pursue new ideas, even in the face of previous ones not working out. Resilience-oriented individuals spend time identifying their thought patterns, breaking through the negative ones that denounce new cognitive appraisals, and thereby, minimize the potential for new positive outcomes.
Resilience-minded individuals display a cognitive flexibility that keeps them buoyant in the storms of life because they know they have control over how they think, and thus, how they feel, about difficult situations. Mentally empowered to face difficult situations, they are able to maintain a positive concept of self and other, as they do not languish in a victim mentality. Instead, they actively adapt themselves to the situation at hand by assuming personal responsibility, pursuing new ideas that could facilitate solution-oriented outcomes. When faced with a problem, they think in terms of ‘what can I do about this’ instead of wasting time waiting on others to step in and take charge. Their cognitive skills demonstrate mental flexibility instead of getting stuck in just one solution. They display courageous decision making by being willing to take risks to try something new that might be too far-fetched or outside the box for those with fixed mindsets. They also engage in active mental coping styles that result in agency and action, meaning that the quick turnaround from thought to action allows them to learn quickly from their mistakes, thereby moving quickly through lesser options till they find successful solutions. Passive coping styles, on the other hand, characterized by avoidance and denial, correlate with internalizing behaviors like increased depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles. Their maladaptive coping styles eat up their time and energy so that it is spent on thoughts and choices that do not directly impact the difficult situations they face. Instead, their thoughts focus on trying to escape the stress their adversities cause, sidetracking them into all sorts of negative thoughts and behaviors that only add more problems to their situation. Substance abuse, violence, and other destructive choices reflect the escapist mindset that prevents these individuals from seeking out positive options. Resilient individuals display resilience-promoting mindsets that allow room for them to make mistakes, while at the same time inspiring growth. They do not lose hope because a solution is not immediately available. Instead, individuals with resilient mindsets accept the adventure involved in struggling through various attempts until they find one that works. Instead of shrinking back from the stress and struggle involved in overcoming adversity, they count the cost, embrace the risks involved, and stretch themselves out of their comfort zone through considering the new possibilities that await them as reject the limits of their outdated and ineffective thought patterns. A resilient mindset is an essential part of the make-up of resilient individuals, and they tend to be astutely aware of the mental obstacles they had to overcome in order to develop this invaluable cognitive skill.
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