Job one in becoming a more resilient person is the constant work of making one’s mind more resilient. Could I really become more resilient when my mind is so fragile and I am so anxious? Yes, I can. As long as I can still learn new things. Otherwise, sadly, no.
I’m going through a few days at the moment where my mind is very fragile: anxious, brittle, scattered and unfocused. Perhaps there are times when you know the same.
When I realized what was happening inside, I went to reread something that works for me in fragile mind-states: a Taoist teaching called wu-wei. More below.

Resilience is an existential matter for me. As you know, I live with ptsd – since 2003 and I’ve been in therapy since 2006. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) saved my life.

I had always been a student of the classics (there’s a missed vocation) and CBT (as Albert Ellis clearly said) is based on Stoicism. I use classical philosophies – practical life guidance won through hard life-long learning - extensively to strengthen my mind and my life focus. I’ve written about this before - see below.* So then, about wu-wei.

Wu-wei is a Taoist teaching about a kind of intelligence. It means something like “not-forcing, not-doing, not-causing.”

In his wonderful book Tao: The Watercourse Way (1975), Alan Watts illustrated wu-wei with two images.

(Note: Please buy books used. Don't be evil: rather search with DuckDuckGo.)

The first image is the difference between a willow and pine branch under the weight of heavy snow.
Whereas a pine branch may be so rigid as to crack under the weight, a willow branch would simply yield to the weight and the snow slide off.
Remember though that the willow branch is not limp but springy.

The second is this: Wu-wei, says Taoism, is a form of intelligence like that of water, which follows gravity, but if it is trapped, will rise to find a new outlet.

Another lovely Western introduction to Taoism is Benjamin Hoff 's The Tao of Pooh (1982), a delightful Taoist romp through the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood.

Hoff said wu wei is Taoism-in-action - “without doing, causing, or making” – and he illustrates it through his practice of the Taoist martial art Tai Chi.
I once fortuitously passed a group of seniors practicing Tai Chi under an overpass in Hong Kong. I stopped to observe and was entranced for the duration by their fluid grace, especially in contrast to the chaotic traffic buzzing past in all directions. It would help if you learned it while young, eh?

Practitioners of Tai Chi never use force to oppose force. They overcome the force of the opponent with yielding through various physical manoeuvres. Hoff says that the basic idea is to wear the opponent out by either sending his energy back at him or by deflecting it away. This weakens his or her power, balance, and “position-for-defence.”

Hoff explains that the wu wei principle underlying Tai Chi is similar to that of striking at a piece of cork floating in the water. The cork can easily wear out the attacker without expending energy.

I’ve been rereading these two descriptions of wu-wei and reminding myself to be more like that during this fragile phase. Note: there are no objective threats at present, only the usual business of life, but my mind is suddenly overburdened and fragile: “We see the world, not as it is, but as we are.”
If I could practice wu-wei more intentionally over these next days, all shall be well (“and all manner of things shall be well” :=)

It will enable me to experience life and the world from out of a more flexible Taoist consciousness.

The Tao Te Ching describes it like this:

She who is centered in the Tao
can go where she wishes, without danger.
She perceives the universal harmony,
even amid great pain,
because she has found peace in her heart.

Chapter 35 - Stephen Mitchell’s translation

And like this:

The sage is ahead
by being behind;
Is first
by being last;
Is whole
by being empty;
And is fulfilled
by being selfless.

Chapter 7 Ray Grigg’s translation

And finally:

Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself?

Chapter 15; Stephen Mitchell’s translation

There are a lot of factors that go into forming a resilient mind. Here’s just a back-of-the napkin list:
genetic make-up, body chemistry, body bacteria, brain structures, nutrition, life experiences – including especially early childhood development and traumatic experiences, parenting, education - including consciousness-raising, and so on.

I have to work with great intention at strengthening my mind. So many variables play into one’s mind-status. If I do not work at the resilience of my own mind intentionally, all the other factors will determine it for me. Classical philosophies, like Taoism, help.

What helps you become more resilient-in-fragility?

Peace be with us, if we work with our fragility,
gerrit

PS: A note on my not-knowing Taoism (:=): I own a number of translations of the Tao Te Ching and some other books on Taoism. I am no expert though: I couldn't tell you which ones are any good or not in terms of their Taoist authenticity. But the ones I own, have worked for me and I return to them. And please correct me wherever I've gotten it wrong.

* My c99 essays on classical philosophies that help me

Stoicism:
http://caucus99percent.com/content/stoicism-trauma-survivors-part-13
http://caucus99percent.com/content/stoicism-trauma-survivors-part-2
http://caucus99percent.com/content/stoicism-trauma-survivors-part-33

Virtue Ethics:
http://caucus99percent.com/content/personal-resilience-aristotelian-virt...