As many of my readers are aware, for the past twenty years I have had an interest in how people develop and maintain a positive attitude even in the face of intense adversity. This interest has been expressed in many of my writings including several books co-authored with my colleague and dear friend Dr. Sam Goldstein. Our latest book, “The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life,” to be released this month, describes the steps each of us can take as adults to nurture a resilient mindset and lead a resilient lifestyle. Last year I devoted two monthly articles to the theme of “personal control.” It is a concept that provokes much self-reflection as evidenced by the many comments and questions I continue to receive about its meaning. As I have often noted, one of the prominent characteristics of resilient people is their ability to focus on what they have control over, devoting little time or energy to factors that are beyond their sphere of influence. They take responsibility and ownership for their own lives. Resilient people do not seek satisfaction and happiness by asking or waiting for someone else to change first but rather…
