Resilience and the Fallacy of “One Size Fits All”
Abstract
This article explores the evolving concept of resilience in the context of serious illness and health care. Drawing from clinical experience in pediatric palliative care, the author challenges the notion that resilience-building strategies can be universally applied. She argues that resilience is not a fixed outcome but a dynamic, individualized process influenced by psychological, social, and existential factors. Conventional advice such as practicing mindfulness or building social connections often falls short for seriously ill patients, especially when structural or cultural realities are overlooked. Instead, the piece proposes a more tailored framework using three types of patient-identified resilience resources: community (who supports them), individual (how they’ve coped before), and existential (how they interpret adversity). By taking a personalized inventory of these strengths, clinicians can better support patients through difficult experiences, affirming that resilience can be nurtured but not prescribed.
Keywords:
resilience
serious illness
palliative care
psychological adaptation
patient-centered care
social determinants
structural inequity
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