| Secure early attachments |
As Erickson so lucidly showed,15,16 the availability of a close, caring consistent responsive and loving parent (caretaker) is most conducive to an individual's/child's sense of trust and self-esteem |
| Temperament |
A temperamental style that is fluid and easy, as opposed to erratic and brittle, acts as a facilitator of social involvement, adaptability, coping, belonging, and resilience4
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| Intelligence |
A basic modicum of intellectual/cognitive skills is paramount to adequate comprehension and funtioning (brilliance, however, does not guarantee exceptional resiliency skills)4
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| Health |
Both physical health and emotional stability are correlated with coping skills and resilience. However, there are innumerable examples of chronically ill or psychiatrically disordered individuals who have shown extraordinarily resiliency skills and thrived |
| Appearance |
While this may offend some readers, it is clear that an attractive facies and demeanor enables more approach than avoidance interactions (even more so, trust than distrust), with the consequent social reinforcement for one's perceived self-worth |
| Social skills |
Individuals with a positive interpersonal manner, who can interact with facility and warmth, who can read their companion's mood and receptivity, who have empathy for others' situations, who inspire confidence and trust, and who are engaging and communicative are much more inclined to have help and opportunities proffered to them8,14
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| Self-awereness |
Like empathy for others, the capacity to size up oneself, to recognize strengths as well as weaknesses, to have some insight into one's own moods, relationships, etc, is of salient importance in dealing with the challenges, obstacles, disappointments, and failures, that life inevitably throws in one's way6
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| Optimism |
“The glass half full” goes a long way towards enabling one te cope with life's travails6
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| Sense of humor |
To be able to laugh, be amused by one's own foibles and frailties, and by the vagaries of life, is a wonderfully enhancing attribute |
| Purpose and planning (organization) |
The most resilient individuals are seemingly more purposeful and committed to an organized, analytical approach, as well as to a sequential plan of dealing with difficulties or challenges and resolving problems |
| Productivity |
Resilient people tend to be dedicated workers, task-oriented, with an eye on successful fulfillment and completion of duties and responsibilities |
| Compartmentalization |
This is an attribute that enables individuals to cope with the inevitable vicissitudes of life temporarily by walling off or circumscribing worries about other significant problems in their lives, so that they do not become debilitated |
| Recreation |
This refers to the ability to play, relax, “kick back,” enjoy one's leisure, and appreciate the time and space afforded by lack of time- and task-inspired duties and demands |
| Contactful, approachable |
While this relates to the social skills characteristic, it more specifically refers to the ability to respond to another's offer of help, during a particularly tough time |
