Resilience in 2020 and Beyond

Written by Dave Rothacker on September 8, 2020

As if the physical in-your-face-reality of today isn’t enough. Internet-memes-gone-wild and over-hyped media quacks have pounded home what a crazy year this has been. How do we deal? How do we cope?

There are a few resources that I’d like to share. The first is a short article talking about a practical thing you can do right away. The rest are books, prescriptive by nature, to be applied over a life of growth and change. I had planned on introducing these books over a period of time on board the Freedom. But for now, I’d rather get them in your hands and encourage you to dig in. By the way, it will not require a lifetime to benefit from these. You’ll realize value in no time.

Suzie deVille talks about the Stockdale Paradox and how to prevail in a time of crisis:

Suzie describes a very simple, pen and paper exercise to help us to prevail in the end.

In the drive-through world we live in today, waiting 30 extra seconds to get our Big Mac while trying to reply to a text message, throws us off kilter and into a state of crazy anxiety.

Most of us CliffsNote, Blinkist and Infographic our way to knowledge. So, I kindly ask you to put down the Big Mac and put down your phone. Think of the books I am about to recommend as lifelong companions to take and read over and over on your journey.

These books are not your typical self-help. They are grounded in research, evidence and science. I’ll talk much more about them in the future, but for now I’d like to at least give you a heads up on them.

From the field of Positive Psychology, which is the scientific study of human flourishing, well-being and an applied approach to optimal functioning, these resources are total Starship Freedom!

To me, the most powerful aspect of Positive Psychology is that it was not founded in order to address human deficiencies, as was every other part of psychology. Its foundation is human flourishing, well-being and optimal functioning.

Getting Grit by Caroline Adams Miller.

If you’d like to start off with the easiest read, pick up Getting Grit by Caroline Adams Miller. Caroline has a first degree connection to Marty Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology. She talks about these next two books.

Flourish by Martin E.P. Seligman

From the bestselling author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness comes “a relentlessly optimistic guidebook on finding and securing individual happiness” (Kirkus Reviews).

Grit by Angela Duckworth.

My most favorite person in the field and my most favorite book of all time. Angela’s take on purpose, passion and young adults is worth the price of the book. Angela is a scientist and a gifted communicator.

As I mentioned, these are not quick fixes. But this is a great start to begin flourishing, improving your well-being and optimal functioning. Along the way you will build up that much needed resilience too!

Much, much more to come in the field of Positive Psychology as we continue our voyage deep into space and self-discovery.