A Philosophical Approach to Resilience: Lessons from Ancient Wisdom
How ancient philosophy teaches us to face challenges and grow stronger through self-reflection and values.
Why do some people seem to thrive when faced with challenges that others find unbearable? This article aims to explore this question by delving into the concept of resilience — what it is, how it can be developed, and, most importantly, how it connects to philosophy.
What is Resilience?
Resilience, derived from the Latin word resilire (to jump back, to rebound), was initially a term used in materials science. It described the ability of a material to return to its original form after being subjected to extreme external pressure. Today, resilience refers to a person’s capacity to adapt to difficult life circumstances and overcome crises.
Resilience, however, does not mean ignoring problems or suppressing negative emotions. Instead, it involves developing strategies to deal with stress, recognizing one’s strengths, and remaining capable of action even in difficult times. Various factors play a role here, including one’s personal attitude, social environment, and the ability to learn from experience.
Interestingly, many of these strategies have been known for centuries, long before the concept of resilience became widespread. They can be found in the writings of ancient philosophers.
George Bonanno, a leading researcher in the field of resilience, defines it as the ability to maintain relatively stable and healthy psychological and physical functioning in the face of adversity. His definition underscores that resilience is not the absence of difficulties but rather the ability to continue functioning despite those difficulties and to grow as a result.
In the past, resilience was often viewed as an unchangeable personality trait. However, modern research shows that resilience is a dynamic process shaped by interaction with the environment and individual experiences.
The Importance of Self-Reflection
A crucial factor in building resilience is self-reflection. Taking regular time to reflect on one’s thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns is essential for identifying personal strengths and weaknesses and developing effective strategies for dealing with stress.
Ancient philosophy already recognized the value of self-reflection as a key to living a good life. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, emphasized the importance of regular self-examination. As Albert Kitzler points out in his 2024 book Gelassenheit. Eine philosophische Lebensschule: “A powerful means of making progress in restraining one’s weaknesses is to engage in conversation with others, or even better, with oneself — ideally in writing. This forces us to find words, describe behaviours, and give thoughts form. This brings clarity” (p. 221).
Writing down one’s thoughts and insights can further support this process. By formulating and structuring ideas, problems become clearer, and new solutions can emerge. Tools such as keeping a regular journal or using techniques like morning pages can be helpful here.
The Role of Meaning and Values
In addition to self-reflection, meaning, and values play a crucial role in developing resilience. People who have a clear understanding of their values and align their lives accordingly possess an inner compass that provides orientation and stability, even during turbulent times.
Ancient philosophy emphasized that a happy and fulfilling life is not found in wealth, status, or power but in aligning one’s actions with moral principles and caring for the soul. Traumatic experiences can deeply affect one’s life story and complicate the search for meaning. However, grappling with such experiences can also offer an opportunity to emerge stronger and with a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. Reflecting on how one’s experiences can be used for the benefit of others can offer new perspectives and help reframe one’s life story.
Resilience is More Than Self-Optimization
While resilience offers many advantages, it is important not to focus solely on self-optimization. Constantly striving to optimize performance and achieve the “perfect” life can lead to stress, overwhelm, and ultimately dissatisfaction.
The pursuit of happiness and success should not be confused with the pressure for continuous improvement and performance maximization. Instead, it is about recognizing one’s needs and limits and living a life in harmony with one’s values and goals. This also means accepting oneself, with all imperfections and mistakes.
Epicurus, the Greek philosopher and founder of the philosophical school named after him, emphasized that understanding one’s own shortcomings is the first step to healing. This acceptance is crucial for enabling a calm and balanced approach to life.
Resilience involves finding the balance between the demands of life and one’s own abilities and resources. It is not about leading a perfect life, but about dealing with life’s imperfections and learning from them. This approach prevents one from getting caught in an endless cycle of self-optimization, which can ultimately do more harm than good.
Conclusion: How Can Resilience Be Built?
Resilience is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. The following points can help in this process:
- Self-Reflection: Regularly observing oneself and engaging with one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours helps to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Meaning and Values: Focusing on meaning and values in life provides stability and direction, especially in difficult times.
- Acceptance: Accepting one’s imperfections and learning from mistakes are important steps towards greater resilience.
- Flexibility: The ability to adjust one’s mindset, reassess situations, and adapt to changing circumstances strengthens resilience.
By considering these aspects and engaging with them consciously, we can strengthen our resilience and better prepare ourselves for life’s challenges. Resilience is not just a valuable skill, but a life stance that enables us to face stress with strength and confidence.
How can this be achieved? My recommendation: engage with ancient philosophical practices, read Seneca, read Epicurus.
This is an English translation of a blog post that was originally published in the author’s blog in German.
