Michael Dubin advises that after surviving enough "near-death experiences," a founder develops a crucial skill: the ability to mentally project past the current panic. By remembering that most crises resolve, you can adopt the calm perspective of your future self, which helps you navigate the present turmoil with less fear.

When we hear stories of how ancestors overcame challenges, we internalize them as "vicarious memories." These are not just tales but mental models of resilience that act as a psychological buffer against our own adversity. This has been observed in studies of children post-9/11 and military veterans.

Resilience isn't about avoiding failure but about developing the ability to recover from it swiftly. Experiencing public failure and learning to move on builds a crucial 'muscle' for rebounding. This capacity to bounce back from a loss is more critical for long-term success than maintaining a perfect record.

Profoundly destabilizing events don't just cause surface-level stress; they strike our deepest core beliefs about reality and identity. This internal “earthquake” shakes our foundational sense of truth, requiring a deeper recalibration than everyday coping mechanisms can provide.

Beyond simple resilience, "post-traumatic growth" is the scientifically-backed idea that all humans can use adversity to build a psychological immune system. Overcoming challenges creates a memory of capability, making you better equipped to handle future adversity, from losing a deal to losing a job.

Shift the focus of mental health from coping and feeling comfortable to building the capacity to handle life's challenges. The goal isn't to feel better, but to become a better, more resilient person through difficult experiences.

Experiencing a true life tragedy, such as losing a spouse, fundamentally recalibrates one's perspective. It creates a powerful mental filter that renders materialistic envy and minor daily frustrations insignificant. This resilience comes from understanding the profound difference between a real problem and a mere inconvenience.

Trauma's definition should be tied to its outcome: any permanent change in behavior from an adverse event. This reframing allows for "positive trauma," where a difficult experience forces you to adapt and establish a new, higher-performing baseline, ultimately making you better off.

Steve Garrity maintains perspective during high-stress situations, like a 2 a.m. contract negotiation, by comparing them to his worst days battling cancer. This "perspective reframing" technique diminishes the perceived severity of current challenges, fostering grit. Any professional can adopt this by using their own past adversities as a benchmark.