I used to be a fan of the word “resilience” u til I heard a university administrator who said that the word is problematic for students of color as well as other students historically marginalized on a college campus. That is, resilience is often framed as an individual endeavor; yet what would it mean for an institution to reduce or remove the barriers that demand so-called resilience day in and day out.
This is on point with research on Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs). Individuals who have endured much more than others, are biologically more likely to have less ability to overcome additional challenges. It is as if we looking at someone who has lost their vision and asking them to just make more effort and they can see. It's like an English-only American visiting another country where English is not spoken but expecting the locals to understand if you just speak English LOUDER. It's grossly insensitive and ego-centric.
Not all loss is visible. We know that the brain has neuroplasticity. However, it is not like a Nerf ball, returning to the original state.
I remind myself to be careful about how I use the word "resilience." It needs context or it can be used to foster blame and shame of others. There are real biological limits that are not always visible.
Ugh- as an architect still held up to knowledge acquisition as a form of expertise and measure of experience, but who excels at being a generalist good at FIGURING OUT solutions rather than KNOWING them, this really strikes a chord with me. It’s the lens I’ve used for years through which to view my CV- “I’m really good at Googling things”
Resilience triggers negative emotions and energy for me. Hope offers me balance. Balance offers me equanimity. “Equanimity involves maintaining an inner calm and steadiness regardless of external circumstances.” Mindful meditation fosters hope. Mindful living gives me the strength to make peace with myself abd circumstances around me.
I recently wrote about abundance, and how having more can make something less valuable, it's especially true with information, we have access to practically all human intelligence in the palm of our hand but people don't know how to harness that.
In hard times, the best predictor of resilience is not mindfulness in the present—it’s hope for the future and belief in the infinite vastness of the Universe
Kamala Harris is running a beautifully executed campaign, but times running out & she's NOT slammed TRUMP'S bountiful array of failures and as a person bereft of ANY Judeo-Christian values. He's the antithesis of all of those virtues & that should disqualify him automatically from ever being thec POTUS AGAIN!
If he is bereft of any Judeo-Christian values, why did he keep the USA from getting into any wars, manage to limit migration ethically, keep our nation from inflation that has eaten away at
citizens' ability to feed their families, increase all classes quality of life, pass legislation allowing those convicted of lower level crimes early release, reduce government regulations that tie the hands of small business thereby increasing start-ups and profitability, establish the US as the number one energy producer in the world, increase black and Latino jobs, bring jobs back from China where slave labor is rampant, sanction IRAN so they were unable to complete their nuclear weapons program, target Mexican cartels who are poisoning our children, didn't polarize and paralyze our nation with identity politics, and strived to make our country great again. Maybe you never heard of all the things Trump did that made our people safer, more productive, less constrained by censorship (protected free speech), brought manufacturing back to this country, maintained a stable economy and kept all crimes ( violent and robbery) from making America unsafe, and with a STRONG military and foreign policy brought world respect for America's strength. If you are unaware of all this GOOD generated by President Trump's Presidency, you must have only watched MSNBC, CNN and the MSM and read the NY Times.
Thank you. Can you tell me how to put the the traumatic event behind me and stop floating thru life. I'm an artist at heart but I have some difficulty expressing my creative side . I'm stable and on antipsychotics how do I pick myself up and live on my own again I hate being surrounded by so many people but I also don't want to go back drinking everyday..? Your advice would be appreciated even if you can tell me where to start.
I realize it's a bit of topic of this newsletter 's edition, but I would love to hear your take on the Don't Die movement led by Bryan Johnson - as it questions one of our biggest core beliefs.
Do you think we should 'think again' about death and longevity?
This is such a powerful take on the evolving definition of expertise. In an era of endless information, the ability to synthesize and connect ideas is what truly sets people apart.
I love the emphasis on pattern recognition—spotting the dots that others miss is where the real value lies. And those recommended reads? A goldmine of perspectives to challenge our thinking and expand our horizons.
Thanks for curating such insightful resources, Adam! Always appreciate your thought-provoking insights.
Please share about “solidarity” as your closing? I was going to “look it up” and/but I have found, at least with “public” people to actual watch their interviews/presentations/etc before I read about what someone else says about them.
I used to be a fan of the word “resilience” u til I heard a university administrator who said that the word is problematic for students of color as well as other students historically marginalized on a college campus. That is, resilience is often framed as an individual endeavor; yet what would it mean for an institution to reduce or remove the barriers that demand so-called resilience day in and day out.
This is on point with research on Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs). Individuals who have endured much more than others, are biologically more likely to have less ability to overcome additional challenges. It is as if we looking at someone who has lost their vision and asking them to just make more effort and they can see. It's like an English-only American visiting another country where English is not spoken but expecting the locals to understand if you just speak English LOUDER. It's grossly insensitive and ego-centric.
Not all loss is visible. We know that the brain has neuroplasticity. However, it is not like a Nerf ball, returning to the original state.
I remind myself to be careful about how I use the word "resilience." It needs context or it can be used to foster blame and shame of others. There are real biological limits that are not always visible.
Really?
Interesting approach 👀
Ugh- as an architect still held up to knowledge acquisition as a form of expertise and measure of experience, but who excels at being a generalist good at FIGURING OUT solutions rather than KNOWING them, this really strikes a chord with me. It’s the lens I’ve used for years through which to view my CV- “I’m really good at Googling things”
"In hard times, the best predictor of resilience is not mindfulness in the present—it’s hope for the future."
I'd love to see some of the research on hope and resilience, and interventions that can help to foster and cultivate hope
Resilience triggers negative emotions and energy for me. Hope offers me balance. Balance offers me equanimity. “Equanimity involves maintaining an inner calm and steadiness regardless of external circumstances.” Mindful meditation fosters hope. Mindful living gives me the strength to make peace with myself abd circumstances around me.
Excellent! Gets right to the point regarding agility & adaptability in these interesting times! Thank You, Adam!
I recently wrote about abundance, and how having more can make something less valuable, it's especially true with information, we have access to practically all human intelligence in the palm of our hand but people don't know how to harness that.
In hard times, the best predictor of resilience is not mindfulness in the present—it’s hope for the future and belief in the infinite vastness of the Universe
I don't want to be anyone but myself, even if I never get diamonds to comfort me.
——Anne of Green Gables(written by Lucy Maud Montgomery)
Kamala Harris is running a beautifully executed campaign, but times running out & she's NOT slammed TRUMP'S bountiful array of failures and as a person bereft of ANY Judeo-Christian values. He's the antithesis of all of those virtues & that should disqualify him automatically from ever being thec POTUS AGAIN!
If he is bereft of any Judeo-Christian values, why did he keep the USA from getting into any wars, manage to limit migration ethically, keep our nation from inflation that has eaten away at
citizens' ability to feed their families, increase all classes quality of life, pass legislation allowing those convicted of lower level crimes early release, reduce government regulations that tie the hands of small business thereby increasing start-ups and profitability, establish the US as the number one energy producer in the world, increase black and Latino jobs, bring jobs back from China where slave labor is rampant, sanction IRAN so they were unable to complete their nuclear weapons program, target Mexican cartels who are poisoning our children, didn't polarize and paralyze our nation with identity politics, and strived to make our country great again. Maybe you never heard of all the things Trump did that made our people safer, more productive, less constrained by censorship (protected free speech), brought manufacturing back to this country, maintained a stable economy and kept all crimes ( violent and robbery) from making America unsafe, and with a STRONG military and foreign policy brought world respect for America's strength. If you are unaware of all this GOOD generated by President Trump's Presidency, you must have only watched MSNBC, CNN and the MSM and read the NY Times.
Thank you for sharing some many meaningful insights. I love your work & generosity!
Better to leave Kamila out of your newsletter.
Thank you. Can you tell me how to put the the traumatic event behind me and stop floating thru life. I'm an artist at heart but I have some difficulty expressing my creative side . I'm stable and on antipsychotics how do I pick myself up and live on my own again I hate being surrounded by so many people but I also don't want to go back drinking everyday..? Your advice would be appreciated even if you can tell me where to start.
I realize it's a bit of topic of this newsletter 's edition, but I would love to hear your take on the Don't Die movement led by Bryan Johnson - as it questions one of our biggest core beliefs.
Do you think we should 'think again' about death and longevity?
Thanks for curating such insightful resources, Adam! Always appreciate your thought-provoking insights.
This is such a powerful take on the evolving definition of expertise. In an era of endless information, the ability to synthesize and connect ideas is what truly sets people apart.
I love the emphasis on pattern recognition—spotting the dots that others miss is where the real value lies. And those recommended reads? A goldmine of perspectives to challenge our thinking and expand our horizons.
Thanks for curating such insightful resources, Adam! Always appreciate your thought-provoking insights.
I believe resilience comes from doing hard things.
We choose to go to the moon and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
If you’re pursuing a challenge or doing something difficult, J.F.Kennedy has some important advice for you.
https://substack.com/@andresruizc/p-153138514
Please share about “solidarity” as your closing? I was going to “look it up” and/but I have found, at least with “public” people to actual watch their interviews/presentations/etc before I read about what someone else says about them.