Introduction—Setting the Scene

Abstract

The focus of this book is on building individual resilience—also known as psychological, emotional, or personal resilience. We use these terms interchangeably throughout, so what do we mean by them? The most straightforward, if somewhat narrow, answer is that this kind of resilience is being able to bounce back from setbacks and to stay effective in the face of tough demands and difficult circumstances. Expanding on this, our definition goes beyond recovery from stressful or potentially stressful events, to include the sustainability of that recovery and the lasting benefit—the strength that builds through coping well with such situations.¹ The capability that is developed in this way applies to coping with everyday problems and challenges—the need for individual resilience is by no means restricted to extreme circumstances or heroic acts.