The Lawyer’s Well-Being Brief. . .7 Things Resilient People Do Differently

“Someday is not a day of the week.”-Janet Dailey

Welcome (back) to the Lawyer’s Well-Being Brief! Each week, I share insights and practical strategies to help us cultivate well-being and thrive — both personally and professionally. Live well! Lawyer well!

Resilient people thrive in business and life because they practice unique emotional habits that help them navigate adversity, maintain momentum, and achieve sustainable success. This is based on the book, Emotional Habits…7 Things Resilient People Do Differently and How They Can Help You Succeed in Business and Life, written by Akash Karia (more about him here, Akash Karia | Keynote Speaker — Keynote Speaker Akash Karia).

Here are the seven things resilient people do differently — and how we can use them to succeed in both professional and personal spheres.​

Habit 1: Acknowledge and Respect Emotions

Resilient individuals accept and honor their emotions, rather than ignore or suppress them. They recognize that feelings — positive or negative — carry important messages, and learning to interpret their purpose enables better decision-making and self-understanding.​

Habit 2: Master Emotions Through Physiology

Physical state and posture actually influence emotional wellbeing. Resilient people know that by shifting their physiology — standing tall, breathing deeply, stretching, or engaging in light exercise — they can positively change their mood, energy, and internal dialogue. This is a powerful strategy for breaking emotional negative spirals.​

Habit 3: Control Meaning Through Focus

Instead of fixating on stress, disappointment, or external chaos, resilient people consciously choose what they focus on. They can pivot their attention from problems to opportunities, finding lessons or silver linings in setbacks and consciously assigning constructive meaning to their experiences.​

Habit 4: Mold Belief Systems

The beliefs we hold shape our emotions — and, ultimately, our outcomes. Resilient people actively cultivate empowering belief systems, feeding themselves positive affirmations and goals that support their growth. This intentional mindset enables them to bounce back even stronger after challenges.​

Habit 5: Ask Constructive Questions

Resilient people consistently ask themselves powerful questions that drive learning and improvement. Rather than dwelling on “Why me?” or “What’s wrong?” they shift to “What can I learn?” or “How will this make me better?” This reframing unlocks resourcefulness and positive action.​

Habit 6: Manage Self-Talk and Inner Stories

Internal dialogue is a decisive factor in resilience. Those with emotional stamina pay close attention to their self-talk and mental “movies,” replacing negative loops with affirming, optimistic scripts. This ongoing internal encouragement helps build confidence and maintain motivation, especially during tough times.​

Habit 7: Use Future Pacing to Master the ABC Loop

Future pacing is a technique in which resilient people imagine themselves succeeding in tomorrow’s challenges, using visualization to set a positive expectation for their performance. By pre-playing positive scenarios, they build momentum internally, creating a “loop” that aligns thoughts, emotions, and actions toward their goals.​

Final Thoughts

Practicing these seven emotional habits can transform our approach to both setbacks and victories, helping us become adaptable, optimistic, and truly resilient — in business pursuits and everyday life.

Forward Always!