It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

While Charles Dickens was writing about the French Revolution, he might as well have been describing a week in healthcare (with far fewer trips to the guillotine).

If you work in this field, you know the duality: extraordinary meaning alongside extraordinary pressure. The highs are deeply fulfilling. The lows can feel overwhelming. And when that overwhelm lingers, it becomes burnout.

Even if you're not feeling this right now, you've probably lived through a day- or even a season- that felt like it was simply too much. 

It’s great to experience the “best” times; when patients improve, systems work, our teams function well, and we move through the day with confidence and purpose. Then there are the hard days, when patients suffer, answers are elusive, and we carry the emotional weight of everyone around us. In those moments, it's easy to believe something has gone terribly wrong. 

But both are true. Much of what we do is so rewarding, so purposeful. Layered along that is stress, especially in moments when problems are complex, answers are elusive and patients suffer. 

And then, of course, the day-to-day logistics of working in a business can contribute, with potential for personality conflicts, system challenges, and good old fatigue.

What if the answer isn't eliminating the difficult parts of healthcare—something most of us have tried and found impossible? This isn't about becoming complacent. Nurses aren't wired that way. It's about becoming more resilient. 

What if we can ground ourselves in the spring of hope so as to weather the winter of despair with strength and certainty? 

Resilience is the capacity to experience both. It isn't avoiding the worst moments; it's moving through them without losing yourself.  We build resilience not just by expecting and preparing for the worst but by expecting and savoring the best. And even when you do get knocked off course—which all of us will—it means finding your way back with greater calm, perspective, and strength. 

This is where many articles leave it: we need to be resilient. Resilient people have better outcomes. That's about as helpful as saying people who exercise are healthier without ever showing them where to begin.  

Resilience is a skill; it’s something we learn, not someone we are. 

Granted, some people learn resilience early on in life; they have an environment that is conducive to resilience growth. This is not true for everyone, and it does not have to predict future success. Like any skill, some people are more equipped to learn quickly. AND like any skill, it can be learned slowly with patience and practice. 

Here’s the best part: there are many options when it comes to building resilience, and none of them are difficult. Like any new skill or habit, the hardest part is getting started and sticking with practicing. But with many of the strategies, the benefits can be felt right away.

Let’s go back to “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. I had a friend ask me this week how work was going, and my immediate response was “it has been brutal”. Truthfully, this is how I felt. This week my schedule was unusually busy, traffic was awful so everyone was showing up late, and my patients were more complex: new medical problems, worsening symptoms, increasing emotional struggles. It was a tough one. 

Here’s where the resilience practice comes in. It was a difficult week: true. To say it was the worst of times is a little dramatic but it was still pretty tough. It’s Friday and I am TIRED. But what if it is ALSO the best of times? What if the first resilience training practice is just to acknowledge the good that exists alongside the “bad”.

Here’s a list of how this week was the best of times. 

• All 3 nurse practitioners were in the office this week. We are so much better together.

• I cared for more than 70 people with acute and chronic pain. Many of these have no one else to help them through their suffering. 

• I participated in planning system changes to support the APPs and docs in the practice.

• I educated patients on their conditions and partner with them to make decisions regarding their treatment plan.

• I finished my charts by the time my work week was done.

• I supported a colleague through a very difficult personal situation. 

• I was present for, and listened to, my patients,knowing this was as valuable as the medical care I provided. People need to feel seen and heard and I was able to offer that.

• I celebrated with the patients who improved this month despite their conditions. Hooray!

These ARE the best of times. I am so happy that the work we do has such a positive impact. The first step to building resilience is to bring attention to THIS side of our work. Yes, you may need to make a list. I dare you to do it, write now and text it to yourself. 

It’s easy to dismiss an exercise like this; it seems too simple to work, too minimal. But the way to resilience is a cognitive one; it is learned through repetition of mental exercises. 

Building resilience starts by choosing where we place our attention. The more often we notice what's meaningful, what's working, and what's good, the more naturally our minds begin to find those things—even on the hard days. 

It's okay to say the week was brutal. Mine certainly was. But it was also meaningful, collaborative, impactful, and filled with moments that reminded me why I chose this profession. Both were true. And the more intentionally I notice both, the more resilient I become. 

Before you close this app and move on to the next task, ask yourself: What made this week the best of times for you? Write it down. And if you’re willing, share one in the comments. Let’s practice building resilience together.

If this feels familiar — if the highs are meaningful but the lows are starting to feel heavy — you don’t have to navigate that alone.

Building resilience is a skill, and it’s one we can strengthen together.

If you’re ready for practical tools and personalized support, reach out to learn more about 1:1 coaching. I’d be honored to work with you