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November 26, 2024 12 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know, sometimes I feel like life it's well, it's
like it's got this way of sort of catching you
off guard, you know what I mean. It's like you're
just going along and bam, something unexpected happens.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Yeah, like life throws a curveball right when you think
you've got to handle.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
On things exactly. And that's where I feel like resilience
comes in. You know, that ability to kind of roll
with the punches and come back even stronger, like.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
That inner strength that helps us navigate challenges and setbacks totally.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
And you know what we're going to be diving into today.
We're taking a look at how some ancient wisdom can
apply to this whole idea of resilience.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
That's right, we're talking about Sun Sou's The Art of.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
War, the Art of War for resilience. I mean, at
first glance, I might seem a little, you know, a
little out there. Yeah, like, how can a military strategy
guide from ancient China help us deal with like the
stresses of modern life.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, that's the fascinating things Sun Sou's work. It's about
so much more than just warfare. It's really about understanding strategy,
planning and adapting to changing circumstances, which are all super
relevant to building resilience.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, totally. And we actually got this really interesting excerpt
from a listener about this very topic.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, and in it they were talking about how Sun
Sou's principles can be applied to things like career setbacks,
relationship hurdles, even just those moments when life feels completely chaotic.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Okay, so where do we even begin with something like this, Like,
is there a particular quote or idea from the Art
of War that really speaks to this idea of resilience.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, there's that famous one in the midst of chaos.
There is also opportunity. Ooh. I like that. It's like
a reminder that even when things feel like they're falling apart,
there's always a chance for growth or new beginnings.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
It's funny because it makes me think of that other saying,
like when one door closes, another one.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Opens exactly, But it's not always easy to see those
new doors when we're so focused on the one that
just slam shut.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Right, Oh, tell me about it. Sometimes it's like we
get stuck staring at the closed door instead of you know,
looking around for open window.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Right, And that's where flexibility comes in, and that's one
of the key things sense Who talks about. It's about
being able to adapt, to shift our perspective and look
beyond that immediate crisis.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
So instead of freaking out when that door slam shut,
it's more about going, okay, now, what what other options
are out there?

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Precisely, it's about asking yourself, what can I learn from
this situation? How can I use this to pivot, maybe
even in a new direction.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
So it's not about dwelling on the setback, it's about
using it as a springboard to something else exactly.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
And I think we can all probably relate to this
in some way. Think about a time in your own
life when you faced a big unexpected change.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Oh gosh, there have been a few.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Maybe it was a sudden job loss, or a big
move you aren't expecting, or even a relationship ending.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Those are all big ones.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, big ones for sure, And I bet that at
first it probably felt pretty chaotic.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
Understatement, right, But by sort of.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Embracing that change and adapting to the new circumstances that
were in front of you, you probably ended up discovering
opportunities that you never even would have considered before. You know.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
That reminds me of a friend of mine who, well,
she was laid off from this corporate job that she
had been at forever, and honestly, it was probably a
blessing in disguise because it ended up pushing her to
turn her passion for photography. You know, she's always been
super into photography. Yeah, she actually turned it into a
full time business. It's amazing.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
That's incredible, and that's a perfect example of what Sunsu
was talking about. Sometimes, that initial chaos it can be
the push we need to uncover these hidden talents or
finally pursue those dreams that we've maybe eve been putting off.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
Right, because if she'd stayed in that job, who knows
if she ever would have taken that leap exactly.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
And Sunsu would say that we can apply that same
adaptability not just to react to chaos, but also to
prepare for it ahead of time.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
Okay, so you're saying we can actually prepare for chaos.
How does that even work?

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, think about it this way. He also said every
battle is won before it is fought.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Oh, I've heard that one.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
So it's not that we can magically predict every challenge.
That's going to come our way, But it's more about
building a solid foundation of resilience so that when those
inevitable curve balls do come, we're ready for them.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, So this doesn't mean I need like a detailed
battle plan for dealing with traffic on the way to
work or anything, right.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
No, No, no, not quite. It's more about having those
strategies in place to manage stress, right, about setting healthy
boundaries for yourself and continuously developing your skills in your knowledge.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
So it's less about having all the answers and more
about having the tools and resources to figure things out
as you go.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yes, exactly.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
It's almost like having I don't know, like a well
stocked emergency kit, like you hope you'll never need it,
but you're ready just in case. I like that analogy, right,
But instead of like bandages and flashlights, we're talking about
things like stress reduction techniques or, like you said, a
strong support network.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Exactly, because when you've got those tools in your back pocket,
you're going to be much better equipped to handle whatever
life throws your way.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
It's like having that know that in a reserve to
draw on when things get tough.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yes, And speaking of knowing what tools you have. Sunzu
also talks a lot about self awareness, which is another
huge factor when it comes to resilience.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
So what does self awareness have to do with all
of this?

Speaker 2 (05:20):
Well, suns has said, if you know the enemy and
know yourself, you need not fear the result of one
hundred battles.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
Okay, but I'm not planning on going into battle anytime soon.
So who's the enemy in this situation?

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Right? Well, in this case, the enemy isn't some outside force.
It's more like it's those internal obstacles.

Speaker 1 (05:38):
Oh, I see the.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
Self doubt, the limiting beliefs, even just those unhelpful habits
that can hold us back.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
Oh, those inner critics that love to chime in at
the worst possible time.

Speaker 2 (05:48):
Exactly. So self awareness in this context, it's about being
honest with yourself about your strengths and your weaknesses, knowing
your tendencies, those triggers, all of it.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
So it's like, by knowing ourselves better, we can kind
to anticipate those moments when those inner critics might try
to take over, or when we might be prone to
falling back into old patterns.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Exactly. Like let's say you know you tend to struggle
with perfectionism. It's something a lot of us deal with.

Speaker 1 (06:12):
Oh yeah, big time, right.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
So by acknowledging that tendency, you can start to challenge
those perfectionistic thoughts when they come up and develop strategies
for managing.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
Them instead of like constantly aiming for this idea of
perfect which, let's be real, is totally impossible. Right.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
It's about finding that sweet spot between striving for excellence
and being kind to ourselves, you know, recognizing that we're
all a work in progress.

Speaker 1 (06:37):
Total work in progress over here. But it's not just
about recognizing our weaknesses, right, it's also about acknowledging and
using our strengths.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Absolutely. Yeah, sunsy knew that a skilled general leverages every
advantage at their disposal. The same is true for us
when we're building resilience.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
So it's like figuring out what we're good at, what
comes naturally to us. Those are our superpowers, and then
we can lean on them, especially when we're facing a challenge.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
Right, Like are you a natural problem solver or are
you somebody who's really great at connecting with people? Those
are the strengths you want to tap into, especially when
times get tough.

Speaker 1 (07:10):
So if someone is say, a really good communicator. That
might mean when they are going through something tough, they
reach out to their support system for help instead of
trying to go it alone.

Speaker 2 (07:20):
Exactly. Oh, because we don't have to do everything by ourselves.
And this actually leads perfectly into another key aspect of
Sunsia's philosophy, which is collaboration.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
Okay, so how does collaboration tie into the art of
war and building resilience.

Speaker 2 (07:35):
I'm intrigued, well, he said, and this is another one
of his famous quotes. The skillful leader subdues the enemy's
troops without any fighting.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
Ooh, that's a good one. Okay, break that down for me.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
So, in other words, sometimes the most resilient thing we
can do it's not about going it alone, but about
recognizing that we are stronger together and then asking for help,
building that support system. It's not a weakness, it's actually
a huge strength.

Speaker 1 (07:59):
Oh. I love that. It's that whole idea that we
don't have to be these lone wolves, like we're not
meant to go through life's challenges solo. Yeah, having that crew,
that support network, it's essential, especially when life throws those
curveballs our way.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
It really is whether it's family, friends, mentors, even online communities,
you know, whatever that looks like for you. Having that
network can make such a difference.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
Because sometimes just having someone to listen or offer a
different perspective, it can make all the difference in the world.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
Totally talking to someone who gets it, brainstorming solutions together,
or even just having someone there to offer words of encouragement,
it can totally shift our whole perspective and help us
feel more supported and less alone in those challenging moments.

Speaker 1 (08:42):
It's like having your own personal cheerleading squad on the
sidelines of your life, you know, reminding you that you've
got this, even when you don't quite believe it yourself exactly.
But even with the best support system in the world,
sometimes we still need to dig deep and find that
inner strength, you know, that mental fortitude to keep going.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
Right because it's ternal support is amazing, but cultivating that
internal resilience is key.

Speaker 1 (09:03):
Too, totally. So how do we tap into that, how
do we build up that mental fortitude?

Speaker 2 (09:08):
Well, it goes back to what Sunsu said about chaos.
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Speaker 1 (09:15):
Okay, I'm sensing a theme here.

Speaker 2 (09:17):
It's all connected because cultivating a more positive and resilient mindset,
it's like strengthening our mental muscles. It's an ongoing practice.

Speaker 1 (09:25):
So how do we even begin to train those mental muscles?
Is it all about like positive affirmations and meditation? Should
I be visualizing myself like conquering a mountain or something.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Well, those can definitely be helpful tools, but it really
starts with something much simpler.

Speaker 1 (09:40):
I think, Okay, what's that.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
It's about recognizing that we actually have a choice in
how we respond to challenges.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
M say more about that, Like, instead of.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
Asking yourself, why is this happening to me, it's more
about asking what can I learn from this? Even in
those really difficult situations, there's often a silver lining if
you look for.

Speaker 1 (09:59):
Okay, So it's not just about waiting for that silver
lining to magically appear, it's about actively looking.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
For it exactly. We get to choose how we frame
our experiences.

Speaker 1 (10:08):
We're not just passive bystanders in our own lives exactly.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
But like anything else, it takes practice.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
You know, what do you mean?

Speaker 2 (10:15):
Well, think about it like this. You wouldn't expect to
just run a marathon without putting in the training first right, true,
very true. It's the same with building mental resilience. It's
about consistent effort, showing up for yourself day after day.

Speaker 1 (10:30):
Building those mental endurance muscles one step at a.

Speaker 2 (10:33):
Time, exactly. And speaking of taking that long view, Sansu
talks about that too, he does.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
What does he say?

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Well, he said that the greatest victory is that which
requires no battle.

Speaker 1 (10:44):
Okay, Now that one sounds a little cryptic.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
It does, doesn't it, Because at first glance, it might
sound like he's saying we should just avoid conflict.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
Altogether, right, like run and hide from anything challenging.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
Right. But I think it goes much deeper than that.
What do you think he meant by that?

Speaker 1 (10:58):
Hmm? Well, maybe it's about being really strategic with our energy,
you know, choosing our battles wisely.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Exactly, Because true resilience it's not about winning every single
fight or coming out on top every single time.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
It's about making choices that align with our values and
our long term goals.

Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yes, and recognizing that sometimes the most resilient path might
involve finding an alternative solution, maybe negotiating or even just
simply walking away from a situation that's no longer serving us.

Speaker 1 (11:28):
It's about knowing when to hold them and knowing when to.

Speaker 2 (11:30):
Fold them exactly. And that brings us to what I
think is one of the most important takeaways from all
of Suns's teachings, which is this resilience. It's not some
destination that we arrive at one day. It's a journey.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
I love that. So it's not like we reach this
magical point where nothing bothers us and we're just unflappable
in the face of any challenge.

Speaker 2 (11:52):
Right. It's about embracing the ups and downs, learning and
growing from our experiences, and just continuously evolving along the way.

Speaker 1 (11:59):
It's about being hind to ourselves through the process, yes.

Speaker 2 (12:02):
Because we're all a work in progress, always learning and growing.
And on that note, I think it's time to wrap
up this deep dive into resilience.

Speaker 1 (12:09):
But hey, before we go, I want to leave our
listeners with something to think about.

Speaker 2 (12:12):
Oh I like that.

Speaker 1 (12:13):
What's one small step you can take today right now
to tap into your inner resilience. Maybe it's practicing some mindfulness,
Maybe it's reaching out to a friend just to say hi.
Or maybe it's just giving yourself permission to take a
break and do something you enjoy.

Speaker 2 (12:27):
Doesn't have to be anything huge, just something small to
nourish your mind, body, in spirit. Because remember building resilience,
it's a journey, not a race.

Speaker 1 (12:36):
Beautifully said, and on that note, that's a wrap on
this deep dive into resilience with Sunzu. Thanks for joining us.
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