Hardiness as the existential courage to grow through searching for meaning

Abstract

This chapter considers the role of personality hardiness in helping people turn stressful circumstances from potential disasters into growth opportunities. Hardiness is conceptualized as the existential courage that facilitates facing stresses directly and learning from transforming them to advantage. In this explanation, life is considered to be an inherently stressful phenomenon, which involves having to make decisions concerning ongoing developmental requirements, to which get added imposed megatrends of change. In all this, the hardy attitudes and skills involve not only surviving but also thriving. This form of resilience leads to enhanced meaning, performance, health, and fulfillment. The chapter also summarizes relevant research, which supports this position, and has led to validated procedures for hardiness assessment and training.