Lessons from a Palm Tree and a Pike

You have to be flexible to be resilient. The world we live in changes dramatically compared to the world even one generation ago. If we are too rigid and inflexible it will harm our chances of dealing effectively with the adversity that disrupts our life. A rigid Maple tree may snap when high winds come, […]

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Best Methods to Manage Stress

I’ve always disagreed with the majority of the stress management literature that promotes avoidance of stressors. Unfortunately in this world of uncertainty we cannot predict nor prevent many of the stressors we face, and furthermore we really…
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Live in the Now

Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment. People that live in the present moment handle stress and trauma better than those who dwell on the past or are preoccupied with the future. If you feel anxiety or worry or shame, chances are…
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“Multiple Competing Complex Demands”

Dr. Linda Duxbury, a researcher and professor at the Sprott School of Business has conducted research on what causes the most stress in policing and found that it’s not much different from the private sector. The majority of stress doesn’t…
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The Gush Katif Effect

Sometimes stress caused by betrayal or even feeling isolated and unsupported can be worse than the stress caused by traumatic events. This may be surprising. It seems counter-intuitive, but let me explain. What really made me consider this…
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Open Door Fallacy

The concept of the “Open Door Policy” is good in theory and an improvement over times when leaders were not available and not approachable. In many cases the concept has gone too far though, and many leaders now think they should always…
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Meaning and Purpose

The human condition is such that we all must unavoidably experience loss and pain. All of us suffer to a greater or lesser extent depending on our own personal interpretation of the loss. Your belief about what an incident means will determine…
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Laughing at Misfortune

Can you look back on misfortunes or challenges in your past and laugh about it? Ok, well that’s pretty easy. How about finding the humour in your present difficulties? That’s a lot harder, but it’s also healthier. People that can find…
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Letting Go

When I do presentations I usually talk about the stress inflicted on us, such as trauma, unexpected changes in our circumstances, or even high demands that are placed on us at work. But what about stress and anxiety we cause ourselves because…
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The Number 1 Resiliency Factor: Fitness

Sometimes people ask me “What is the most important factor for building stress immunity?” I speak about many factors so it’s hard to pick one as the most important. But if I have to pick just one, I say fitness. Working out provides…
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Optimism Boosts Resiliency

Optimism is a trait that increases a person’s immunity to stress. I mentioned in the previous post there was some controversy about this. I believe the main reason there is controversy is because some people define what it means to be optimistic…
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