We all know that stress can be debilitating to our emotional well-being.  But, some people seem to handle it much more easily than others.  How do they do that??  How do you handle stress?  Do you view adversity as something to be avoided, or something that helps you grow?

Dr. Mary Steinhardt PhD is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas who has done quite a bit of work in the area of resilience or, the art of bouncing back from adversity.  She has some interesting twists on the theme that you’ll find useful and thought-provoking.  

I interviewed Dr. Mary Steinhardt who is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas.  She has done some fascinating work in the area of stress, coping, and resilience which she defines as the ability to bounce back from adversity and fully recover from its ill effects.  

She takes the unusual view that adversity and challenge are actually a positive force that contributes to our personal growth.  Just as stressing our physical muscles through exercise helps our muscles grow stronger, emotional growth happens by grappling with and overcoming tough life situations.

Regarding adversity in that light requires a shift in the way we think, Dr. Steinhardt says, since most of us tend to think of stress and adversity as things to be avoided.  But stress and adversity can stretch us past our comfort zone and leave us more supple in the face of life’s challenges and the downright bad stuff life can throw at us.  And, we are that much stronger the next time life throws us a curve ball.  Thinking of it in this way is an empowering approach rather than a disabling one.

Some of the questions Dr. Steinhardt answers in this 30 minute interview are:

• What is resilience?
• Why is it important?
• How do self-esteem and resilience relate to each other?
• Do you see any indicators of whether someone is likely to be resilient or not?  Is it a nature or nurture question?
• How does one develop it?
• What is the biggest obstacle for people developing it?  Do certain personality types have a harder time?

To hear the interview, press the play button on the player, wait several seconds and enjoy!

Dr. Mary Steinhardt EdD is a Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas--Austin.  To learn more about Dr. Steinhardt's work in stress and adversity, go to her website.

LIST OF COMMENTS