As a culture, we have a tendency to dwell on our weaknesses with the thought that through sharpening our understanding of the things that contribute to the problem, we will find the solutions. This is and has been a very useful approach for fixing most simple and many complex problems in medicine -- it gives us a way of understanding where dysfunction occurs, provides a tool for analyzing these dysfunctions, presents a way of categorizing and naming things and inspires a methodology for returning the human being to a state of non-dysfunction.
Unfortunately, by using only this approach to address the causes of human suffering, we are left with incomplete solutions at best and potentially harmful ones at worst. Though we have made significant advances in our understanding of the way the brain works, the simple explanations psychiatrists have used to understand and explain mental illness (i.e. depression is caused by a chemical imbalance) are not proven fact, and new discoveries change these frequently. Consequently, the treatment we provide often leave both patient and practitioner frustrated with the results. Through this model, we try to correct what’s wrong without recognizing just how right things are already. We stand on our mountain peaks and look out over our failures, not recognizing just how far we’ve come, what we’ve overcome and how strong we actually are.
A different way of looking at mental health is through a resilience based approach or one that examines the strengths and capacities that appear both inherently in the developing human being and which we have learned explicitly through our exploration of science, spirituality and philosophy. This model is based on the assumption that human beings are fundamentally whole, and through the recognition and cultivation of certain traits, skills and capacities, we can live happier, more productive and more meaningful lives.This is by no means a new idea. Not only has it existed in various forms throughout history, but it is being studied by scientists and doctors today. Even so, though a resilience based approach has gained some popular acceptance, its principles and wisdom has barely made a dent on the practice of modern medicine.
