Strength: Models & Theories

personal995
May 25, 2024
12 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2024

Index

On Seven Cs of Resilience
On Strengths-Based Resilience
On Logotherapy
On Stoic Philosophy (Stoicism)
On Epictetus' Dichotomy of Control

Introduction

Models & Theories are essential tools for understanding, exploring, and interacting with the world around us. They help us unlock the mysteries of nature, solve practical problems, and drive progress and innovation in various fields of human endeavor.

With that in mind, first we want to align this with what we are trying to achieve. Ultimately we want to grow and achieve our Goals. The Models & Theories then, need to help us to formulate strategic plans that can do just so.

The thing with strategic plans is they are more often than not dealing with systems of chaos (human nature, environments, economies, complex adaptive systems etc), and as such can not be completely fixed. They need to be adaptable.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the American military officer and statesman, once said, "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."

There are very few perfect models or theories that suit every situation. Every individual's unique goals have specific requirements to successfully execute them.

However, there are often general, timeless, adaptable or customisable Models & Theories that can be utilised to begin building momentum, or which are suitable to create from, a unique and flexible strategic plan.

These Models & Theories are selected and continually curated with this aim in mind.

Get creative. Use the Models & Theories verbatim, if they serve you in that form. If not, use them purely as idea generators, as partials to build upon or as starting points to adapt and customise.

If none specifically suit, move on to the Self Review, Lessons and Case Studies and create your own working model.

Process

With your Values and Goals front of mind, what is it you are aiming to do or achieve? Once you have that clear for yourself:

Review all the Models & Theories below. Do any appear to provide the beginnings of a structure you can use as a strategic plan?
If so, start working through the steps and build momentum, adapting as it suits for your specific situation.
If not, do some partial aspects or a sum of parts approach to help you customise a strategic plan?
If still not, move on to the Self Review, Lessons and Case Studies and create your own working model.

Models & Theories

1. On Seven Cs of Resilience

Summary: The Seven Cs of Resilience is a framework developed by Kenneth Ginsberg, a resilience expert and pediatrician, to empower individuals in cultivating resilience and bouncing back from adversity.

Here's a brief overview of the Seven Cs along with steps for using them:

Calm: The first C underscores the importance of fostering a sense of calmness, stability, and groundedness, especially during challenging times.

Here's how to incorporate calmness into daily life and work:

Engage in regular mindfulness and relaxation techniques to soothe the mind and body.
Establish a daily self-care routine that includes activities like deep breathing, meditation, or spending time in nature.
When faced with stressors, take deliberate pauses and deep breaths to center yourself before responding.

Clarity: Clarity involves gaining a clear understanding of the situation, one's emotions, and potential solutions.

Here's how to enhance clarity:

Use journaling as a tool to clarify thoughts and emotions, gaining insights into the root causes of stress or challenges.
Seek guidance and different perspectives from mentors, coaches, or trusted friends to gain clarity.
Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps to create a sense of clarity and direction.

Connectedness: Connectedness emphasizes nurturing supportive relationships and social connections.

Here's how to foster connectedness:

Cultivate strong social support networks both personally and professionally.
Prioritize quality time with loved ones and colleagues who offer encouragement and support.
Practice empathy and active listening to strengthen connections in your interactions with others.

Competence: Competence involves recognizing and leveraging one's strengths, skills, and abilities to overcome challenges effectively.

Here's how to enhance competence:

Reflect on past successes and challenges to identify strengths and skills that have helped you navigate adversity.
Set realistic goals that capitalize on your strengths and push you to grow.
Embrace continuous learning and skill development opportunities to enhance your competence in your chosen field.

Creativity: Creativity encourages seeking innovative solutions and thinking outside the box when faced with obstacles.

Here's how to nurture creativity:

Cultivate curiosity and embrace experimentation to explore new ideas and approaches.
Engage in creative activities such as brainstorming sessions, writing, or art to stimulate inventive thinking.
Foster an environment of creativity and innovation in your workplace by encouraging diverse perspectives and collaboration.

Courage: Courage involves confronting challenges and taking action despite fear or uncertainty.

Here's how to cultivate courage:

Practice self-compassion and kindness to overcome self-doubt and fear of failure.
Embrace the learning process and set achievable expectations, even in the face of setbacks.
Take calculated risks and step out of your comfort zone to pursue meaningful opportunities and goals.

Community: Community emphasizes contributing to something larger than oneself and giving back to others.

Here's how to strengthen community:

Engage in community service or volunteer work aligned with your values and interests.
Foster inclusivity and belonging within your workplace or community by actively engaging with others and supporting diversity.
Acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of others, fostering a culture of gratitude and collaboration.

Conclusion: By integrating these Seven Cs of Resilience into daily life and work, individuals can cultivate resilience, enhance well-being, and thrive in the face of adversity. These steps provide a roadmap for navigating challenges with courage, clarity, and compassion, ultimately enabling individuals to live well and do their best work.

2. On Strengths-Based Resilience

Summary: Strengths-Based Resilience is an approach developed by Martin Seligman and colleagues, which combines principles of positive psychology with resilience frameworks to help individuals cultivate resilience and thrive in the face of adversity.

Here's a abridged overview of Strengths-Based Resilience along with potential steps for use:

Identify Strengths: The first step in Strengths-Based Resilience is to identify and acknowledge your personal strengths and resources. This can include character strengths, skills, talents, and support networks. Here's how to do it:

Reflect on past experiences to identify moments where you felt confident, competent, and resilient.
Take assessments such as the VIA Survey of Character Strengths or Gallup's StrengthsFinder to identify your key strengths.
Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or friends to gain insights into your strengths and areas of expertise.

Leverage Strengths: Once you've identified your strengths, the next step is to leverage them to navigate challenges and achieve your goals. Here's how to leverage your strengths effectively:

Align your goals and tasks with your strengths to maximize engagement, motivation, and performance.
Look for opportunities to use your strengths in new and creative ways to overcome obstacles and solve problems.
Build on your strengths through continuous learning and skill development, expanding your repertoire of capabilities over time.

Develop Resilience Skills: While focusing on strengths, it's also important to develop resilience skills that can help you bounce back from setbacks and adversity. Here are some resilience skills to cultivate:

Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to regulate your emotions and maintain perspective during challenging times.
Cultivate optimism and a growth mindset, viewing setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth.
Build strong social support networks and communication skills to seek help and support when needed.

Foster Positive Relationships: Strengths-Based Resilience emphasizes the importance of nurturing positive relationships and social connections to enhance resilience. Here's how to foster positive relationships:

Invest time and effort in building and maintaining meaningful connections with friends, family, colleagues, and mentors.
Practice active listening, empathy, and compassion in your interactions with others, fostering mutual support and understanding.
Seek out mentors and role models who embody strengths and qualities you admire, learning from their experiences and perspectives.

Celebrate Successes: Finally, it's essential to celebrate successes and milestones along the way, recognizing and appreciating your progress and achievements. Here's how to celebrate successes effectively:

Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small, to boost confidence and motivation.
Share your successes with others, expressing gratitude for their support and contributions to your journey.
Use success as an opportunity to reflect on your strengths and resilience, reinforcing positive patterns of behavior and mindset.

Conclusion: By integrating these steps of Strengths-Based Resilience into your life and work, you can cultivate resilience, enhance well-being, and perform at your best even in the face of adversity. This approach empowers you to leverage your strengths, develop essential resilience skills, and foster positive relationships to thrive personally and professionally.

3. On Logotherapy

Summary: Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on finding meaning in life as the primary motivation for human existence. It emphasizes the importance of discovering purpose, even in the face of suffering or adversity, as a pathway to psychological well-being and fulfillment.

Here's a brief overview of Logotherapy along with steps for using it to live well and do one's best work:

Discover Meaning: The first step in Logotherapy is to explore and discover personal meaning in life. This involves reflecting on values, aspirations, and beliefs to uncover what gives life purpose and significance.

Find Purpose in Work: Identify how your work aligns with your values and contributes to a greater sense of meaning and purpose. Reflect on the impact of your work on others and how it serves a larger purpose beyond individual tasks or goals.

Embrace Challenges as Opportunities: View challenges and setbacks as opportunities to find deeper meaning and purpose. Instead of succumbing to despair or resignation, approach difficulties as opportunities for growth and personal development.

Focus on the Present Moment: Practice mindfulness and presence in your work, focusing on the present moment rather than dwelling on past regrets or future worries. By immersing yourself fully in the task at hand, you can find meaning and fulfillment in even the most mundane activities.

Cultivate Resilience Through Meaning: Use the discovery of meaning as a source of resilience in the face of adversity. By anchoring yourself in a sense of purpose, you can weather setbacks with greater fortitude and bounce back from challenges more effectively.

Seek Opportunities for Growth: Continuously seek opportunities for growth and self-improvement in both your personal and professional life. Engage in activities that challenge you to expand your horizons and develop new skills that contribute to your sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Live Authentically: Strive to live authentically in alignment with your values and beliefs. Avoid conforming to societal expectations or pursuing goals that are incongruent with your true self. Authentic living fosters a sense of integrity and coherence that enhances well-being and effectiveness.

Cultivate Meaningful Relationships: Foster meaningful connections with others based on shared values and a sense of mutual purpose. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who encourage and inspire you to live a meaningful and purposeful life.

Practice Gratitude and Appreciation: Cultivate gratitude for the opportunities, experiences, and relationships that enrich your life. Expressing appreciation for the blessings in your life enhances your sense of meaning and fosters a positive outlook on life and work.

Reflect on Ultimate Meaning: Finally, reflect on the ultimate meaning of life and your place within the broader context of existence. Consider how your individual journey contributes to the larger tapestry of humanity and strive to live in a way that honors your unique purpose and potential.

Conclusion: By integrating these steps of Logotherapy into your life and work, you can cultivate a deeper sense of meaning, resilience, and fulfillment that empowers you to live well and do your best work. Finding purpose in your endeavors not only enhances personal well-being but also contributes to greater effectiveness and impact in your professional endeavors.

4. On Stoic Philosophy (Stoicism)

Summary: Stoic Philosophy is an ancient philosophical school that originated in ancient Greece and Rome, with notable philosophers like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Stoicism offers practical wisdom and techniques for living a fulfilling life and doing one's best work.

Here's a brief overview of Stoic Philosophy along with steps for using it to live well and do your best work:

Understanding Stoic Principles

Stoicism teaches that the key to a fulfilling life lies in understanding and aligning oneself with the natural order of the universe, living in accordance with reason and virtue, and accepting the things that are beyond one's control. Here are the core principles:

Focus on Virtue: Virtue, as defined by Stoicism, involves living in accordance with wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Striving to cultivate these virtues in every aspect of life is central to Stoic philosophy.
Dichotomy of Control (More in its own section below): Stoicism emphasizes distinguishing between things within our control (our thoughts, actions, and attitudes) and things outside our control (external events, other people's actions). By focusing on what's within our control and accepting what isn't, we can find inner peace and resilience.
Acceptance of Nature and Impermanence: Stoicism teaches acceptance of the natural order of the universe, including the inevitability of change, impermanence, and adversity. By embracing these truths, we can cultivate resilience and find peace amidst life's challenges.
Living in Accordance with Nature: Stoicism encourages living in harmony with nature, both external and internal. This involves aligning our values, goals, and actions with the principles of reason, virtue, and the common good.

Applying Stoic Practices in Daily Life

Mindfulness and Awareness: Practice mindfulness and self-awareness to observe your thoughts, emotions, and reactions without judgment. This allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively to life's challenges.
Practicing Virtue: Strive to embody Stoic virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance in your actions and decisions. Act with integrity, kindness, and compassion towards yourself and others.
Acceptance and Adaptation: Cultivate acceptance of the things you cannot change and adaptability in the face of adversity. Focus your energy on what's within your control and let go of attachment to outcomes beyond your influence.
Journaling and Reflection: Keep a Stoic journal to reflect on your thoughts, values, and experiences. Write down daily reflections, gratitude lists, and lessons learned to deepen your understanding of Stoic principles and cultivate resilience.
Stoic Exercises: Practice Stoic exercises such as negative visualization, premeditation of adversity, and the view from above to develop resilience, gratitude, and perspective on life's challenges.

Doing Your Best Work with Stoic Philosophy

Focus on Excellence, not Outcome: Shift your focus from external rewards and recognition to the intrinsic satisfaction of doing excellent work. Embrace the process of learning, growth, and mastery rather than being fixated on outcomes beyond your control.
Embrace Challenges as Opportunities: View challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Approach difficulties with a growth mindset, seeing them as chances to develop resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Maintain Equanimity and Perspective: Cultivate equanimity and perspective in the face of success and failure. Remain steadfast in your commitment to virtue and integrity, regardless of external circumstances.
Serve the Common Good: Align your work with the common good and the well-being of others. Strive to make a positive impact through your actions, whether in your professional endeavors or in service to your community.

Conclusion: By integrating Stoic Philosophy into your life and work, you can cultivate resilience, wisdom, and virtue, enabling you to live well and do your best work even in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Stoicism provides timeless wisdom and practical tools for navigating life's challenges with courage, clarity, and integrity.

5. On Epictetus' Dichotomy of Control

Summary: Epictetus' Dichotomy of Control is a Stoic philosophical concept that emphasizes distinguishing between things within our control and things outside of our control.

Here's a brief overview of the Dichotomy of Control along with steps for using it to live well and do one's best work:

Understand the Dichotomy: The first step is to understand the concept of the Dichotomy of Control. Epictetus teaches that there are things in life we have control over, such as our thoughts, beliefs, actions, and attitudes. On the other hand, there are things we do not control, such as external events, other people's actions, and outcomes. Understanding this distinction is essential for applying the principle effectively.

Focus on What You Can Control: Once you understand the Dichotomy of Control, the next step is to focus your energy and attention on things within your control. Here's how to do it:

Identify aspects of your life and work that you have control over, such as your effort, attitude, and responses to situations.
Shift your focus away from worrying about external factors or outcomes that are beyond your control.
Practice acceptance of the things you cannot control, recognizing that dwelling on them only leads to frustration and anxiety.

Accept What You Cannot Control: Acceptance is a key aspect of applying the Dichotomy of Control. It involves acknowledging that there are things in life we cannot control and learning to let go of attachment to them. Here's how to practice acceptance:

Cultivate a mindset of acceptance by reminding yourself of the distinction between what is within your control and what is not.
Practice mindfulness and present moment awareness to anchor yourself in the here and now, rather than dwelling on past regrets or future worries.
Embrace uncertainty and impermanence as natural aspects of life, allowing yourself to adapt and respond gracefully to changing circumstances.

Develop Resilience: By focusing on what you can control and accepting what you cannot, you can cultivate resilience and inner strength. Here's how to develop resilience:

Build self-awareness and emotional regulation skills to navigate challenges with composure and clarity.
Cultivate a growth mindset, viewing setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth rather than failures.
Seek support from your social network and draw on your inner resources to bounce back from adversity with resilience and determination.

Live in Accordance with Virtue: Finally, Epictetus teaches that living in accordance with virtue is the ultimate goal of Stoic philosophy. Virtue, in this context, refers to qualities such as wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. Here's how to align your actions with virtue:

Reflect on Stoic virtues and principles and strive to embody them in your daily life and work.
Make decisions and take actions that are consistent with your values and principles, even in the face of adversity.
Cultivate moral character and integrity, knowing that living virtuously is within your control and leads to a life of meaning and fulfillment.

Conclusion: By applying the Dichotomy of Control in your life and work, you can cultivate resilience, focus on what truly matters, and live with greater clarity, purpose, and effectiveness. This principle empowers you to navigate challenges with wisdom and grace, ultimately enabling you to thrive personally and professionally.

By reviewing these models and theories above you can pick and choose what may work best for you and your own unique situation, try, test and refine your process to suit. To the point where you begin to see improvements and compound your results moving forward.