Bright lights

Costa Rica, 2015. The sun bakes the earth as the crowd of yellow capped triathletes line up before the expanse of open water.

The signal goes, the crowd heaves and the contestants jump into the water to complete a gruelling 1.5 kilometre swim. It would be hard enough at the best of times, even without the following 30 kilometre mountain bike ride and 11 kilometre trail run.

For one contestant that year, Lesley Paterson, winning this race was more important than anyone could possibly imagine.

For years, Paterson had nurtured a dream far away from the gym or triathlon training. She wanted to adapt a novel - All Quiet on the Western Front - into a screenplay. But time was running out.

Without the prize money, she would lose the film rightsA person with film rights owns the rights to make a particular book into a film. to the novel. And to add an extra layer of difficulty to the race, Paterson was competing with a broken shoulder.

Most would have given up and gone home. Instead, Paterson pushed on not only to finish - but to win the race. It was the start of an incredible journey that took her from a triathlon in Costa Rica all the way to the OscarsA colloquial name for the Academy Awards, named after a nickname for the golden statue given to winners. ceremony.

Paterson admits her story is "unbelievable" to most people. But she puts it a different way: it is simply "perseverance and passion that paid off". There is one thing no one can doubt: Lesley Paterson has huge amounts of resilience. The ability to bounce back from adversity is a valuable trait in our ever-changing world. But can anyone learn to become as resilient as Lesley Paterson?

Some experts argue that resilience is largely determined by our genetics and upbringing. This means that some people are simply born with a natural tendency towards resilience. A supportive childhood can further strengthen this trait. However, others believe that resilience can be developed and improved through intentional effort. 

Studies have found that certain personality traits, such as optimism and emotional stability, are associated with higher levels of resilience. Clinical psychologist George Bonanno says it is all about how we perceive stressful events: "Do you conceptualise an event as traumatic, or as an opportunity to learn and grow?". This suggests that resilience can be taught. 

Having a resilience toolbox also helps us deal with stressful situations. This might include having a supportive network of friends and family that can help provide emotional and practical support. It may also include dedication to a worthy cause or a belief in something greater than oneself; helping to increase our sense of purpose and belonging.

There are also practical steps that individuals can take to increase their resilience. These include prioritising self-care, learning new skills and setting achievable goals. By taking care of their physical and emotional health, individuals can improve their ability to handle stress and adversity.

In the end, resilience is not simply an innate trait that one is either born with or without. Rather, it is a combination of factors, including genetics, upbringing, relationships and intentional effort. With effort, say psychologists, anyone can work to improve their resilience and become better equipped to handle life's challenges.

Yes: Resilience is a combination of psychological, emotional, and behavioural traits that can be developed and strengthened over time through various practices such as mindfulness.

No: Research has shown that certain genetic variations may make some people more prone to stress, while others may have a greater capacity to cope with stress and bounce back from adverse events.

Or... The journey to becoming more resilient can look different for each individual, and some people may face greater challenges in building resilience due to past experiences or current life circumstances.