The Limits of Resilience: When to Persevere, When to Change, and When to Quit

Are we sometimes too strong for our own good?

Amid epidemics of anxiety and depression,threats of ecological and economic disaster, not to mention a pandemic, resilience has been the buzzword of the decade, the answer to every challenge we face as individuals, organizations, and communities. We seldom stop to ask if our insistence on persevering is really in our long-term interest. Does it trap us in patterns of behavior that no longer make sense, foreclose too soon on better opportunities, and stifle positive development? With examples ranging from overly optimistic thinking habits to risk-averse descisions by corporations and governments, Michael Ungar, one of the world’s leading resilience experts, explores how even the most resilient among us can fail catastrophically. The Limits of Resilience is a witty, compassionate argument that true resilience lies not so much in always bouncing back but in our ability to self-disrupt and embrace occasional but much-needed failure.

Dr. Michael Ungar is a brilliant story-teller and one of the world's leading experts on resilience, which he defines as living well despite adversity. He is the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family, and Community Resilience, a professor of social work at Dalhousie University, and family therapist. He is the author of fourteen books, 135 scientific papers, and a blog for Psychology Today. He has worked with the World Bank, UNESCO, and the Red Cross, and is a recipient of the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Distinguished Service Award.