Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt in the face of stress. Resilience is also a term that refers to a number of skills and characteristics that contribute to our ability to face hardship. Together we can work to name and strengthen the qualities that not only resonate but that you are discovering within yourself as you navigate cancer survivorship.

2. NOUN
1. The ability to return to the original form, position, etc… after
being bent, compressed or stretched.
2. Ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity
or the like; buoyancy.

3. WHAT IS RESILIENCE?
 MYTH: Resilience is a genetic trait. You either
have it or you don’t.
 We are all born with innate resiliency. An inborn
capacity for “self-righting”.
 Resilience is found in a variety of thought
processes and behaviors that can be learned
throughout a lifetime.
 Resilience develops as people grow
and develop better thinking,
self-management skills and knowledge.

5.  Most people who experience a major life crisis or
event experience feelings of grief, anxiety, anger,
and other negative emotions.
 Growth comes not from the avoidance of these
negative emotions but rather from the struggle to
cope with them.
 We can not control the pain in our lives, we can
control the amount of suffering we have in response
to that pain.
 Distress tolerance skills help you endure and cope
with your pain.

6.  General emotion theories have linked emotions with
a “specific action tendency”
Fear  motivation, preparedness to escape
Anger  aggression
Disgust  expel
 Increased our chances of short term survival in life-
threatening situations.
 Constricted thought-action pattern offer a direct
benefit.

7.  Positive emotions generate broadened and more
flexible behavior that builds long-term survival.
Joy  playfulness socially, intellectually, physically
Love  interacting, interest in and appreciation of
significant others
 Broadened thought-action tendencies evolved for
long-term benefits such as building resources for
survival.
 Promote behaviors that are more flexible, open-
minded and receptive.
Fredrickson, B. :. (1998) What good are positive emotions?
Review of General Psychology, 300-319.

8. Positive
Feelings
Frame of
mind to
explore the
world
Build skills & internal
resources
(manifestation of
Resilience)
Find meaning,
fulfillment and
satisfaction
Gain
confidence

9.  Social Competence:
 Responsive
 Flexible
 Empathetic
 Caring
 Communicative
 Sense of humor
 Problem Solvers:
 Planning
 Help-seeking
 Critical thinkers
 Creative
 Autonomous:
 Strong sense of identity
 Self-aware
 Task mastery oriented
 Adaptive
 Able to set boundaries
from negativity
 Sense of Purpose &
Belief in the future:
 Goal oriented
 Educational aspirations
 Optimism
 Faith
 Spiritual connectedness

10. SENSE OF CONTROL
Building a stronger Internal Locus of Control
Where do you have any power to make choices that
will affect your circumstances?
How can you care for yourself?
What role do you have in determining future hopes,
goals, desires?

11.  Structuring the unknown
 Allows us to comprehend,
explain and predict
 It can mean leaning on
Shifting roles, new routines
and relationships.
 Needed when our
understanding of the world
becomes intelligible in some
way.
 When the environment is
changing rapidly.
 An emergent activity –
requires self-awareness and
flexibly between ”what is” and
“what can be”
 Importance lessons over time
 The process of deriving
personal growth from
adversity
 The affirming
consequences of negative
life events
 Plays a role in Cognitive
adaption and post-
traumatic growth
 More likely to seek support
from their environment
 Experience more
confidence in their ability to
overcome adversity.
 Awareness strengthens
over time.
Sense-Making Benefit-Finding

12. STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
 Loved ones: friends & family
 Cancer Survivor Peers
 Medical Team

13. BEING ABLE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT/HELP
 Support groups
 Therapist
 Self-help books/blogs/websites
 Online message boards

14.  Resilient behaviors often create positive emotions
during the recovery process.
 Positive emotions broaden thought-action options
and promote healthy coping behaviors.
 When you feel confident and capable you also are
more willing to be flexible and receptive to new
information
 Lean into joy through gratitude.
 Learn where the warm feelings “bubble” for you.
 Heal faster. Recover quicker. Connect easier.

15.  Did you learn anything new about
yourself since you were diagnosed
with cancer?
 How are these qualities important in your
relationships with others?
 What underlying qualities would you want
others to know about you?
 What one, two or three things can I do
better than everyone else in this room?

16. Resilient people often find meaning even in times of
trouble and gain confidence from overcoming
adversity. In this way, resilience can contribute to a
deeply satisfying life.
Bauer
&
Bonanno

17. DAILY HEALING PRACTICE
UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE LIFE
I AM…
Statement about YOU
I CAN…
Statement about your POTENTIAL
I WILL…
Statement of CHANGE in your life

18.  Be mindfully present
 Celebrate everyday successes
 Play to your strengths
 Nurture gratitude
 Random acts of kindness