Stress-Hardiness
The quote in yesterday’s post,
The quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention.
comes from
The Traits of Stress-Hardy, Resilient People
- They have a sense of meaning, direction, and purpose. They are value-centered rather than reactive and defensive. They understand that emotions are great sources of energy and motivation but are often poor guides for action. Instead these people use their values as guides.
- They realize that the quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention. They try to align their thoughts and actions with their values. They know how to motivate themselves to take action.
- They don’t judge themselves or others harshly when things go wrong. They focus on what they want, not on what they don’t want.
- They are able to tolerate ambiguity, uncertainty, and imperfection. They have a long-range perspective, so they give themselves and others room to grow. They can afford to be resilient, flexible, and creative because they are centered in their values.
- They are reasonably optimistic and have a sense of humor. Even though they are dedicated to doing things well, they don’t take themselves too seriously.
- They take responsibility for their mental programming, their emotions, and their actions. If they have ineffective ways of thinking and behaving, they evaluate them and make appropriate changes.
- They look at adversity as a challenge rather than as a threat. They realize that no matter how the present situation turns out, they will learn and grow from it.
- They respect themselves and other people. They have a spirit of cooperation, looking for win-win solutions rather than trying to win over other people or ignoring their own wants and needs because of fear.
- They are grateful for the good things in their lives.
- They know how to mourn the inevitable losses in life. They know how to let go of things they have no control over.
I wrote that about 25 years ago when I was teaching a course on transforming stress into personal power. There’s a link to it on the right sidebar under Stress-Hardiness (as well as ChatGPT’s rewrite called Stress-Hardiness, ChatGPT Version).
I decided to read it again to see if it still feels true. It does. There are always things for me to work on, but it’s a great guide for me.
Bean Update
Do you remember those bean flowers from last Tuesday?
It looks as if they have turned into the start of bean pods:
Here’s a closeup of a Wikimedia picture of pods on a bean plant.
I’m gobsmacked. No other word for it.
January 4, 2026
I love the word gobsmacked and so am I… this is amazing, beans growing in a pot, who would have believed it?
I know. 🙂
Number 5 They are reasonably optimistic and have a sense of humor. Even though they are dedicated to doing things well, they don’t take themselves too seriously. That one says it all for me. I kind of a do things well or not at all person and I tend to make jokes about my failures.
OMG you’ve got baby beans. That is so cool.
I think the plant will die before any baby beans actually form, but I’m still amazed.
…the quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention. Amen to that!
🙂
I see bits of myself in what you wrote. I’m surprised you have beans growing in a pot!
So am I! The plants will die soon, I’m afraid, but it’s still amazing.
I’m pretty much the opposite of all the traits required to be stress hardy, except for the sense of humour:)
I am going to print this out though and reflect on it if that’s ok. Thank you.
Of course, please use anything that you find helpful.
hope you don’t mind if I make a copy of this? very good!! look at you go with the beans!! awesome!!
Please do copy it and use anything that you find helpful.
I’ve got to share this with my son-the-Thinker! I can totally see him in #’s 1 and 7. I’m more #5 and #9 — but identifying with #10 is likely out of my reach.
🙂
I like this one in particular:
9. They are grateful for the good things in their lives.
I love being grateful!
Yes! So do I. 🙂
Yay stress hardiness!!! I live that little bean plat!
🙂
Too bad everyone does not hold or value these traits. They are something to strive toward, at least the ones that are within our control. I believe I have at least three, but certainly not all of them! The bean plant is amazing!!
🙂
I wish I could be that way. Thank you for sharing this.
Your bean plant looks pretty good.
Happy New Year!
🙂
That’s the little plant that could!
🙂
When I used ti grow beans, not many made to a boiling pot of water…rather picked and crunched down at the plants!
I used to do that with peas. 🙂