Head: (4 of 5)
Heart: (4 of 5)
Leadership Applicability: (4 of 5)

In 1998 psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman founded the positive psychology movement by making it the theme of his term as president of the American Psychological Association. For half a century, psychology had focused almost exclusively on the study of the causes and treatment of mental illness; now it was time to study what it was that made well people well. What were the characteristics of people who were relatively happy and healthy? What traits made them more resilient in times of stress?  Were these qualities innate, or could they be taught?

Most of the authors presented in this anthology are graduates of masters of applied positive psychology programs that follow Seligman's thinking. Together, these researchers and professionals contribute research, insights, and practical applications to the quickly growing website PositivePscyhologyNews.com. This slim book is a compilation of a series of brief but pertinent articles from this site, covering characteristics of resilient people, practices to utilize in the moment, and long-term resiliency skill-building.

An example of an in-the-moment strategy from Nicholas Hall, our Wise Talk speaker this month, is a practice he calls the ABCDE method:

• A=Adversity:  Describe a recent adversity in specific, objective detail.
• B=Beliefs: Record what you were saying to yourself in the midst of the adverse event.
• C=Consequences: What did you feel, and what did you do, as a result of your beliefs above?  Again, be specific.
• D=Dispute: Generate evidence to point out inaccuracies in your beliefs, create a more optimistic alternative belief, or put your belief in perspective.
• E=Energy: Write a few sentences about how disputing your beliefs changed your energy, mood, and/or behavior. Did you find alternate solutions? 

The result is a simple mindset-shift that serves as both an interruption of what could easily become a downward spiral and redirection to a positive one.

Other articles explore different faces of resiliency.  Kathryn Britton, a coach and adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland, writes about the "ordinary magic," or the characteristics of ordinary people who happen to be resilient in adversity. Resilient people prepare for adversity by understanding how their bodies respond to threat and how to calm themselves. They prevent themselves from going into overwhelm by remembering their personal assets-what she calls the "ordinary resources" available to them. 

Eleanor Chin, a life and executive coach, adds the power of positive relationships to this mix. Timothy T.C. So, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Cambridge, adds a model that includes what he calls "inner mechanisms" of managing physical health, meditation, and positive visualization; "relationship mechanisms," including giving and taking graciously from others and treating ourselves to compassion; and practice-building habits to support these two mechanisms. Aren Cohen, a learning coach, adds humor, and why laughing is so important.

Over time, as education specialist Sherri Fisher has observed, people can overcome a variety of risk factors by emulating characteristics of particularly resilient people.  These characteristics include withdrawing from family members (or co-workers) enmeshed in problems; surrounding themselves with caring mentor figures; developing personal competence, determination, and a strong capacity to work; setting long-range goals; setting high expectation for their children (and employees); learning from failures; and actively engaging in community life and service.

Laura L.C. Johnson, MFT, identifies a new syndrome: post-traumatic growth, as opposed to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Growth occurs not through the suffering itself, but through the individual's struggle and reconstruction of shattered assumptions-rebuilding their core beliefs and creating new realities. David Shearon, a lawyer who focuses on changing legal education and K-12 education, applies some of this learning to groups. He talks about the importance of creating cultures that share high levels of positive emotion, weeding out the "nightmare keepers," those who are always pointing out why something will not work.