What ‘Mr. Rogers Neighborhood’ can tell us about resilience (courtesy Dr. Andy McLean)
If you are a regular reader of this newsletter, you know that at the end of each “Words on well-being” column, we ask that you consider sending in any wellness-related ideas or aphorisms that inspire you (and which you feel might be inspiring to your colleagues).
After our last column on the topic of perseverance, an anonymous individual from SMHS sent us the following quotation from Fred Rogers: “How great it is when we come to know that times of disappointment can be followed by joy; that guilt over falling short of our ideals can be replaced by pride in doing all that we can; and that anger can be channeled into creative achievements…and into dreams that we can make come true.”
Embedded in this quotation are the notions of hope, reframing, and resilience. What one might easily miss, though, is that the sentiment is also action oriented. Writers from Václav Havel to Arthur Brooks have noted that hope is not the same as optimism. While optimism is anticipating a positive outcome, hope allows for seeing the reality of a situation with a conviction to continue to act, without a guaranteed favorable outcome. And acting in the face of that uncertainty.
We come through personal trials as changed people. The word “revival,” has both French and Latin roots, meaning “to live again.” During difficult times, we often need to reframe our thinking, making sure we don’t get stuck in a negative mind set, unable to see our situation clearly. However, whether we realize it or not, most of us have been trained to reframe thinking “negatively” as part of our education. In other words, we have been subjected to the “Socratic method” where our own assumptions and beliefs are challenged and critical thinking is fostered, (hopefully) resulting in a deeper understanding of the self. Related to this is the so-called dialectical method (borrowed from 19th century German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel), starting with an assumption (thesis), a challenge to that assumption (antithesis), and a new “answer” that emerges from the confrontation of opposing ideas (synthesis). The world of psychotherapy has borrowed heavily from these theories.
Some of us might benefit from seeing a therapist to work through difficult situations. Depending on the impact or severity of our situations, however, most of us will manage by addressing these challenges through self-reflection and support from family, friends, or colleagues.
And it doesn’t hurt to watch a few episodes of “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.”
Reminder, if you would like to share inspirational quotes, stories, or ideas which might be helpful to others, please feel free to e-mail our colleague Dr. Melissa Naslund at melissa.naslund@UND.edu.
For more on all of the above, visit the SMHS well-being website.
