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True resilience is not about bouncing back, argues Psyche essay

opinion-review · 2026-05-12

An essay on Psyche challenges the common understanding of resilience as the ability to bounce back from adversity. The author argues that calling someone resilient in the endurance sense is a way to appear kind without taking responsibility, making the speaker feel comfortable rather than offering genuine support. The piece redefines resilience as something other than mere endurance.

Key facts

  • The essay is published on Psyche.
  • The author critiques the common definition of resilience as bouncing back.
  • Calling someone resilient in the endurance sense is described as a way to avoid responsibility.
  • The essay suggests that such kindness is self-comforting for the speaker.

Entities

Institutions

  • Psyche

Sources