Struggle is a real-world phenomenon, particularly if we want to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. The struggles we face can be as routine as dealing with the traffic to get to our place of work on time. We may also struggle with physical or mental illness, a family dynamic that is not improving, or a difficult job. In extreme cases, some must live through oppression and life-threatening events brought on by an oppressive regime. Struggle is an effort to gain freedom from constraints, to withstand or overcome obstacles, or to work against competing forces in order to make a meaningful change or difference. Whether we encounter frequent struggles or only a few, we all must face them, not necessarily by choice. We are aware of the pain and difficulties associated with struggles as well as the feeling of gratification and relief when we withstand, outlast, or overcome them. We learn from struggles, together with building strength of character and resilience the next time we encounter similar challenges. How we engage and overcome struggles shapes our attitudes and perspectives regarding our lives and our ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

Struggle is a real-world phenomenon, particularly if we want to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. The struggles we face can be as routine as dealing with the traffic to get to our place of work on time. We may also struggle with physical or mental illness, a family dynamic that is not improving, or a difficult job. In extreme cases, some must live through oppression and life-threatening events brought on by an oppressive regime. Struggle is an effort to gain freedom from constraints, to withstand or overcome obstacles, or to work against competing forces in order to make a meaningful change or difference. Whether we encounter frequent struggles or only a few, we all must face them, not necessarily by choice. We are aware of the pain and difficulties associated with struggles as well as the feeling of gratification and relief when we withstand, outlast, or overcome them. We learn from struggles, together with building strength of character and resilience the next time we encounter similar challenges. How we engage and overcome struggles shapes our attitudes and perspectives regarding our lives and our ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

Celebrating the rewards of resilience and gratitude.

Humans are remarkably resilient in the face of crises, traumas, disabilities, attachment losses and ongoing adversities. To date, most research in the field of traumatic stress has focused on neurobiological, psychological and social factors associated with trauma-related psychopathology and deficits in psychosocial functioning. Far less is known about resilience to stress and healthy adaptation to stress and trauma. This book brings together experts from a broad array of scientific fields whose research has focused on adaptive responses to stress. Each of the five sections in the book examines the relevant concepts, spanning from factors that contribute to and promote resilience, to populations and societal systems in which resilience is employed, to specific applications and contexts of resilience and interventions designed to better enhance resilience. This will be suitable for clinicians and researchers who are interested in resilience across the lifespan and in response to a wide variety of stressors.

What enables people to bounce back from stressful experiences? How do certain individuals maintain a sense of purpose and direction over the long term, even in the face of adversity? This is the first book to move beyond childhood and adolescence to explore resilience across the lifespan. Coverage ranges from genetic and physiological factors through personal, family, organizational, and community processes. Contributors examine how resilience contributes to health and well-being across the adult life cycle; why—and what happens when—resilience processes fail; ethnic and cultural dimensions of resilience; and ways to enhance adult resilience, including reviews of exemplary programs.

As the title suggests, Project Resilience is about making projects and project managers more resilient. The authors look at projects not simply from a ’mechanistic’ approach in which work can be broken down, executed and controlled as a series of interlocking parts but rather as ’organic’ constructs, living entities existing for a finite period of time, consisting of people, structures and processes. These entities are constantly challenged by environmental adversity - risk, uncertainty and complexity. Resilience involves finding ways to help project managers notice more, interpret adversity more realistically, prepare themselves better for it, contain and recover from it quicker and more appropriately. The book has two purposes: it offers a glimpse into our tendencies to be irrational in the face of adversity: risk, uncertainty and complexity. The second purpose is to offer a new perspective to aid in managing risky, and in particular uncertain and complex projects. The authors go beyond commonly-accepted standards in project management with the aim of providing an understanding of how to implement project-wide resilience. The purpose is to guide, not to prescribe. It is best used as a trigger for a thinking process to define your own unique approach to managing uncertainty, not to replace your experience and judgement. Ultimately, it has been written to challenge traditional wisdom in project management, and to address the rationale for creative best practices.

My motivation in writing this book stems from a deep belief that work is a divine mandate given to us by our Creator. When we understand our work as a reflection of God's image, as a means of serving others, and as a platform for personal and spiritual growth, we can approach our vocations with renewed enthusiasm and purpose. Moreover, by recognizing that God is actively present and involved in our work, and that He rewards our efforts according to His perfect wisdom and timing, we can find inspiration, encouragement, and motivation to pursue our calling with diligence and integrity. Through the pages of this book, I will draw upon biblical teachings, theological reflections, personal experiences, and practical insights to guide you in discovering the rewards embedded within your work. I firmly believe that by embracing God's perspective on work, you will not only be empowered to achieve success in your profession but also find a deeper sense of fulfillment, purpose, and ultimate rewards that extend far beyond the temporal. Also the concept of "God rewards work" can be a powerful way to explore the relationship between faith, hard work, and personal fulfillment.