Resilience is the capacity to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep moving forward despite challenges. Culturally, this ability is often elevated to an ideal—what we might call “resilience culture,” which promotes the belief that enduring hardship and pushing through adversity are defining traits of success. Resilience culture reinforces the idea that the best and brightest are those who can withstand stress, adapt quickly, and keep going. While resilience is valuable, this idea can pressure individuals to ignore their limits and equate worth with endurance rather than holistic growth and fulfillment. ​For many of us, the unchecked pressure to thrive can result in what I call “toxic resilience”—the pattern of enduring stress to the point of self-neglect. We are told and can tell ourselves to be tough, dig deep, persevere, or just suck it up at all costs. We can force ourselves to adapt to not only difficult, but sometimes toxic environments. And when we struggle to adjust with a smile on our face, we’re left with feelings of inadequacy and shame. For some of us, the pressure to conform to resilience culture can become an additional burden, compounding the stress we already carry. ​Toxic resilience—the habit of pushing through stress without addressing underlying needs—can have profound negative effects on our personal and professional lives. This mindset often leads to chronic exhaustion, reduced productivity, and burnout, diminishing work quality and career satisfaction. Ignoring stress can also contribute to mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression that can manifest physically causing serious health problems. Additionally, toxic resilience can strain personal relationships, foster a harsh inner critic, and erode self-compassion, leaving us disconnected from our support systems and personal well-being. Over time, the relentless grind of ignoring stress can impair decision-making and reduce career longevity, forcing many of us to leave our chosen profession prematurely. Breaking this cycle requires recognizing the importance of rest, boundaries, and support to create a sustainable and fulfilling career. Resilience culture, with its emphasis on grit as a defining trait of success, can shift the burden of managing stress and challenges away from organizations and onto individuals. This culture believes that if employees struggle, it’s because they lack resilience rather than because they are facing unrealistic demands or inadequate support. As a result, systemic issues—such as unmanageable workloads, unrealistic expectations, or a lack of meaningful resources—often go unaddressed. By placing the emphasis solely on individual coping mechanisms, organizations may inadvertently neglect their responsibility to cultivate a healthier workplace culture that prioritizes collective well-being and sustainable practices. When the onus is placed solely on employees to suck it up or power through, it absolves employers of their duty to create safe, supportive, and fair work environments where people can truly thrive.​​​ MY VISION True resilience isn’t just about personal endurance—it’s about fostering workplaces where well-being, fairness, and collaboration are prioritized. Organizations have a crucial role to play in building resilience by offering meaningful resources and boundaries that support work-life harmony and promoting a culture of understanding and respect. In a truly supportive workplace, employees are not resilient despite the environment—they’re resilient because of it. I work with organizations to help their people flourish. My vision is to create healthy and supportive working environments where individuals can explore their strengths and challenges, develop strategies to fulfill their potential, and be well in the process. Working closely with management and HR teams, I help develop customized wellness initiatives that meet the unique objectives of your organization.