'Realistic Optimism; is a key part of growing and surviving in times of stress. It is holding the belief that things can be pretty awful, and that the awfulness will at some point end.

In times of stress, it can be normal for us to put on our rose-coloured glasses and pretend that everything is sunshine and rainbows. While this can be helpful in the short term, it can come back to bite us if we have to try and keep up this facade for too long.

The other thing we do (in a vain attempt to protect ourselves) is to overstate how awful things are. While being realistic about what we are facing is important, it is hard to keep ourselves going if we are stuck in misery and hopelessness.

The balance is making room for both of these thoughts.

Acknowledge the challenging parts of a situation while still maintaining a sense of hope. This is a key difference between people who experience growth and those who struggle after a traumatic experience.

By doing both, we can face the challenges in front of us while also maintaining the hope and resilience that we need to persevere.
How do you tend to respond when life gives you lemons?