This is a really great series of articles so far, it’s just about exactly what I needed to read lately too.

Thank you! You’re inspirations!

Everyone in my office has taken this test and we all agree that it is pretty astounding what it say about you. Using the information is another thing entirely, but it’s nice to basically get clinically diagnosed positively and leave with 5, count ‘em 5 area where you excel.

My latin is so poor as to be non existant. Are the phrases roughly:

1. It burns, but I am unconquered.
2. If the world falls into pieces, the fearless celebrate the ruins.

I really need to get a copy of Wenham or something. Latin is manly!

Another good source, of course, of which the ancients probably would have said to build your “resiliency”, if they had use this word, is to acknowledge the fundamental “offices”, or “dutys”, in a mans life.

The best source for this is Cicero “On duty”, which has been the gentlemans handbook in europe for many centuries, from the renaissance to the age of enlightment. I would even dare to say (being not alone in this) that this book was the most influential in shaping the codex of the gentleman.

What is called “resiliency” here is something Seneca and Epicurus where all about.
Try Seneca “On Providence”, first book, which is about the role of adversity in shaping your character.
(“[...] the assaults of adversity do not weaken the spirit of a brave man. It always maintains its poise, and it gives its own colour to everything that happens; for it is mightier than all external things. And yet I do not mean to say that the brave man is insensible to these, but that he overcomes them, and being in all else unmoved and calm rises to meet whatever assails him. All his adversities he counts mere training. Who, moreover, if he is a man and intent upon the right, is not eager for reasonable toil and ready for duties accompanied by danger? To what energetic man is not idleness a punishment?”)

And Pierre Gassendi third book of his Syntagma, “Concerning Hapiness”, which is in my opinion the best summary of the moral philosophy of Epicurus.
(“[...] it is necessary to readily endure the labors of acquiring virtue, as they must be followed by marvelous pleasure and comfort. [...] “When we say that pleasure is the end, we do not mean the sensual or the debauched kind, which terminate in the very moment of enjoyment [...].)

Those philosophers urged the youth of their age to aquire those facculties which they termed “virtues” to archieve a state of “peace of mind”, which is not so much like the mediative state of mind which we might associate with the term “peace of mind” according to the eastern philosophies , but rather like a strong backbone, that allows us to lead a good [and manly] life, or rather, is the essence of “the good life” itself.

This should allow you in every stage, in every disaster of your life to stand fast an say “Uror, sed invictus.”(Seneca) and “Si fractus illabatur orbis impavidum ferient ruinae.” (Horacius).

[You might forgive me strange & flawed grammar - I am no native speaker of the english language.]

Valete.

I really like your part on positive psychology, very interesting. I didn’t do the questionnaire but I’ve bookmarked it for later.