African Proverb: No matter how long the night, the dawn will break—psychology says that people who adhere to this mindset in the face of persistent adversity exhibit a specific quality of cognitive resilience that has little to do with optimism.

People love to throw out the word “optimistic” when people are in trouble. “Stay positive!” they say. “Look on the bright side!” But here’s what I’ve discovered after years of studying resilience and watching people navigate their darkest moments: the…













