--- description: You are better than you think you are—if you think you are. title: How to Develop a Psychology of Resilience image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt119dccf4921e5531/69888ab9cd1bba40f86ffce3/running-road.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How to Develop a Psychology of Resilience by [J.D. Meier / Sources of Insight](/author/sources-of-insight/) ## J.D. Meier / Sources of Insight Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 16, 2016 12:00 PM CUT  Two men on an early morning run. Two men on an early morning run.Getty Images by [J.D. Meier / Sources of Insight](/author/sources-of-insight/) ## J.D. Meier / Sources of Insight Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 16, 2016 12:00 PM CUT _“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.” —_ Henry David Thoreau Pessimists are more accurate and realistic than optimists. But optimists succeed four to five times more than pessimists, because they keep trying. Optimism is a better choice. But the real key is to develop your psychological strength and resilience. The goal is to feel bigger than anything that can happen to you. It’s your psychological strength that will carry you through when times get tough. In a seminar on [Financial Freedom: 3 Steps to Creating and Enjoying the Wealth You Deserve](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyHvNxpebIM "undefined"), Tony Robbins shares key insights on the power of emotional and psychological strength. **Your Psychological Strength Will Carry You** Mechanics will only get you so far. If you don’t have the emotional or psychological strength to stick with it, you might get bored or give up. Here’s what Tony Robbins says in his seminar: --- > “” --- **Pessimists are Much More Realistic than Optimists** Pessimists are really accurate, where optimists are not. But is that a good thing? It would be if it didn’t hold them back. Here’s what Robbins says in his seminar: --- > “” --- **Optimism is a Better Choice** If you want accuracy, check with a pessimist. If you want results, find an optimist. The optimist will keep going and will get over the humps and hurdles that will hold the pessimists back. Here’s what Robbins says in his seminar: --- > “” --- **You Are Larger Than Anything That Can Happen to You** You don’t have to pretend to be an optimist. You can keep it real. The key is to rise above whatever challenge comes your way, by building an internal resilience that helps you stand strong when you need it. Here’s what Robbins says in his seminar: --- > “” --- You’re better than you think you are, if you think you are. Rise and shine. _This_ [_article_](http://sourcesofinsight.com/psychology-of-resilience/ "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_Sources of Insight_](http://sourcesofinsight.com "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4256436/resilience/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4256436/resilience/"},"headline":"How to Develop a Psychology of Resilience","datePublished":"2016-03-16T12:00:47.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T15:50:59.627Z","description":"You are better than you think you are—if you think you are.","url":"https://time.com/4256436/resilience/","keywords":["Psychology","resilience","Mental Health/Psychology"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt119dccf4921e5531/69888ab9cd1bba40f86ffce3/running-road.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"J.D. 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