We live in challenging times. Beyond life’s typical ups and downs, there seem to be an overabundance of obstacles each of us must overcome. At times the stress feels overwhelming, and we struggle to find the balance we desperately need to get through it all. In this conversation with beloved teacher and healer Joan Borysenko, she turns her wise attention to how we can develop the resilience to stay on course no matter what life throws our way. She explains, “Resilience is that recognition that it’s not the end of the world. Furthermore, resilience is more than just bouncing back from the stress, like losing your house or losing your money. It’s an innate transformation, for example, understanding that happiness is an inside job.” She guides us through the warning signs of pessimism and the pitfalls of optimism, and offers up a wealth of suggestions for how we can develop what she calls “stress-hardiness”—to handle all of life’s challenges with resilience, equanimity, and inner peace.
