We’re living in remarkable times. In a world of crisis-centric headlines and fear-amplifying social media, I’d like to provide an alternative perspective on building resilience during difficult times. Through my journey from a small village in Haiti to becoming a global speaker, I’ve learned one unchanging truth: Leaders emerge in times of crisis.

The Hidden Luxuries Most People Are Not Considering

Consider this perspective: 200 years ago, a king would pay millions for things you use daily without thought. Television. Dishwashers. Air conditioning. Refrigerators. Internet. Cell phones. Cars. These aren’t luxuries anymore—they’re basics most take for granted. That same king couldn’t even fly across a continent in hours. It wasn’t possible. No airplanes existed.

The technology in your pocket holds more computing power than what sent humans to the moon. You can video chat with someone on the opposite side of the planet for free. Your groceries arrive at your doorstep with a few taps on a screen. This isn’t just progress—it’s a revolution in human capability.

Poverty is Declining Around the World

When discussing building resilience in difficult times, poverty often enters the conversation. Yes, we must work to eliminate it—there’s too much wealth in the world for poverty to persist. But here’s what many miss: poverty is actually declining.

I know this firsthand. As a teenager in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, chicken and rice were luxuries—monthly treats at best. Cornmeal filled our daily bowls. Owning a car, television, refrigerator, or telephone marked real wealth. My tiny village had no electricity. We used kerosene lamps after dark. No TVs, phones, or movies existed there.

I still remember my first encounter with ice during my trip to Port-au-Prince. The brain freeze shocked me so much, I spit it out immediately. My mouth couldn’t handle it. That memory serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come.

Today? Every house in my village has electricity and cell phones. Some homes have a phone for each person. They eat rice and chicken daily. They connect worldwide through Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. This isn’t just change—it’s transformation.

The Fear Factory: Why Bad News Sells

Building resilience in difficult times requires understanding how media works. Bad news creates addiction. Watch enough news, and you’ll think we’re living in the worst era ever. That’s why I don’t own a television.

Strange? Maybe. But I train my brain to focus on positive developments. Why learn about every shooting, crisis, or disaster? How does that improve life? “If it bleeds, it leads” drives media coverage. But here’s reality: we’re living in history’s most peaceful time.

Consider these numbers:

• Civil War deaths: 1,084,000
• World War II deaths: 1,076,000
• Iraq War: 36,710
• Afghanistan War: 4,442

While any death is tragic, these numbers show a clear trend toward less violence, not more. Modern warfare, while still terrible, claims fewer lives than conflicts of the past. Crime rates in most developed nations continue falling. Domestic violence receives more attention now—not because it’s more common, but because we no longer accept it as normal.

The Truth About Today’s Challenges

People worry about rising costs. Recently, a friend complained that food prices were much lower in the 1980s. “$100 bought a month’s groceries then,” she said. What she missed: that same $100 from 1980 equals $306.14 today. Think about how much food $300 buys now.

The real change isn’t just in prices—it’s in variety and accessibility. Year-round fresh produce. International cuisine ingredients in local stores. Organic options. Specialty diets accommodated. Our grandparents couldn’t imagine such choices.

The Speed of Information

Why do we hear more bad news? Simple: faster communication. Fifty years ago, a war across the world might go unnoticed for months. Today, smartphones make every event immediate. Anyone can become a journalist, broadcasting reality in real time.

This constant connection brings challenges. Information overload can overwhelm us. Building resilience means learning to filter what we consume. Not every crisis requires our immediate attention. Not every problem needs our personal involvement.

Building Real Resilience for Tomorrow

Am I ignoring potential dangers? No. Could some catastrophe loom ahead? Possibly. Might some “crazy lunatic” disrupt our lives? Perhaps. But would that be new? No. We’ve faced deplorable moments throughout history. We survived. We bounced back.

Building resilience in difficult times means staying optimistic despite challenges. We’re heading toward remarkable breakthroughs in:

• Medical science
• Clean energy
• Space exploration
• Artificial intelligence
• Environmental protection

Yes, tough challenges lie ahead—but that’s good. Without challenges, creativity dies. Innovation never emerges. Our greatest achievements often come from our darkest moments.

The Innovation Cycle

Many upcoming breakthroughs will radically improve our lives. Those afraid of change will struggle. Those ready to embrace change and maintain optimism will thrive.

Consider how problems drive progress:

1. Challenges emerge
2. Innovation responds
3. Solutions develop
4. Life improves
5. New challenges arise

This cycle never ends. It’s not a bug in the system—it’s a feature. It’s how we grow.

Your Path Forward

Let’s face it, you and I don’t have much control over what’s going on in the world. The only thing we can control is how to choose to react. That said, building resilience in difficult times requires specific actions. Here are a few of them:

1. Maintain perspective about real progress
2. Limit your exposure to negative media
3. Recognize opportunities in challenges
4. Embrace change rather than fearing it
5. Stay optimistic about human potential

Start with small steps:

• Choose one positive news source to follow
• Set limits on social media consumption
• Connect with optimistic people
• Learn one new skill each month
• Share success stories with others

The Power of Choice

We’re living in the most prosperous and promising times ever. The future holds remarkable potential for those ready to seize it. Building resilience isn’t just about surviving tough times—it’s about thriving through them. It’s about staying in the race when others are bailing out.

Every morning, we have a choice. We can focus on problems or seek opportunities. Building resilience in difficult times means choosing growth over fear, progress over panic, and action over anxiety.

The question isn’t whether challenges will come—they always do. The question is: Will you be ready? Will you see opportunities where others see obstacles? Will you be among those who thrive through change?

What steps will you take today to build your resilience for tomorrow?