Should we celebrate resilience?

We live in a time that celebrates resilience, and rightfully so.
But: when we praise someone for their resilience, what are we actually seeing?

Is it true resilience, or is it professionalism masking something deeper?

When we witness someone "bouncing back" or "powering through," it's easy to assume they possess an unshakeable spirit. But resilience isn't always what it appears to be on the surface. Sometimes what we're seeing is someone who doesn't feel safe enough to show vulnerability. Sometimes it's a well-developed defense mechanism rather than genuine strength.

The world is asking us to step up in unprecedented ways. To show up differently. To make tough decisions we've never had to make before.
Even compromise our values.
But are we equipped? Are we building genuine resilience, or are we just getting better at hiding our struggles?

This is what I see: True resilience isn't about being unbreakable. It's about having the tools to process our experiences in healthy ways.

Real resilience requires introspection and hard work. It means creating space for both strength AND vulnerability. It means recognizing that sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn't to "push through."

It's to ask for help.

And perhaps the hardest part? Learning to trust. Trust that our vulnerability will be met with compassion and support.

When I find myself admiring someone's resilience, I have to look deeper. Are they thriving, or are they surviving? There's a profound difference, and understanding it might just change how we are with each other, and ourselves.