The term is Resiliency.

I received some final words of wisdom from a professor (Dr. Gary Burk) who taught my Learning and Cognition class and each one of those words really hit home.

He goes onto talk about resiliency. What does that mean to you?

To me, as a total humanist, resiliency is an individual's capacity to thrive and fulfill potential. This is regardless of stress in their life. People that are resilient see their problems or areas of stress as opportunities for growth. Those that are resilient seem not only to cope well with unusual strains and stressors but actually to experience such challenges as learning and development opportunities.

To quote Dr Gary Burk:
'While some individuals may seem to prove themselves to be more resilient than others, it should be recognized that resilience is a dynamic quality, not a permanent capacity. In other words, resilient individuals demonstrate dynamic self-renewal, whereas less resilient individuals find themselves worn down and negatively impacted by life stressors'.

...Really think about those words. In my life I have experienced some serious stressors. Haven't most of us? I would think so. Our ability to recognize these obstacles as eventual successes really helps you to manage these stressful times with a clear mind.

He also writes:

'John Dewey (1859-1952), the renowned 20th century American educational philosopher, describes this sense of continuance through dynamic self-renewal:

A stone when struck resists. If its resistance is greater than the force of the blow struck, it remains outwardly unchanged. Otherwise, it is shattered. While the living thing may easily be crushed by a superior force, it none the less tries to turn the energies which act upon it into means of its own further existences... It is the very nature of life to strive to continue in being. Since this continuance can be secured only by constant renewals, life is a self-renewing process'.

I gained a renewed outlook by really processing these words. If you listen to them, there is a lot of common sense, yes. However, if you look inward and see yourself in those words, it helps you to reflect. You can reflect on who you are inside and the struggles that may feel bigger than you can manage. You can finally take a deep breath and realize that perceiving the stresses in life differently can go a long way in overcoming them.

I feel this ties in nicely with the bullying issues all over the media recently. This also ties in with my own personal struggles in managing some of the overwhelming tasks of parenthood and even as a military spouse.

Everyone experiences moments of insanity (or even longer than moments), but it is how we view these moments in ourselves that allows us to become resilient human beings and in turn become a stronger person within.