A few days ago, a TikTok video became viral in my country, reaching the national news. It was about a young woman of 33 years of age, who was diagnosed with cancer and all her friends decided to surprise her by showing up to her chemotherapy appointments to cheer her up with chants, disguises, and dances, helping her keep a positive mindset during the challenging experience.
This got me thinking of the concept born in behavioral economics and later applied to the field of positive psychology: Antifragility.
The concept of Antifragility, introduced by economist Nassim Nicholas Taleb, goes beyond mere resilience or sturdiness. It's about how certain systems or entities don't just endure tough conditions; they actually benefit and grow stronger from facing challenges, stress, or unpredictable events. This principle is key for understanding how various systems, whether biological, economic, or cultural, manage to not just survive but flourish and develop in the face of instability and change.
In the light of antifragility, the heartwarming display of support for the young woman in the video is not just an act of kindness; it exemplifies how personal support networks can be antifragile systems themselves. These networks can transform challenging experiences into opportunities for growth and resilience, thus reflecting the essence of antifragility.
Nassim Taleb’s concept was adopted and further developed by Tal ben Shahar and his colleagues, who proposed a 5-component model as a way of fostering antifragility: the SPIRE model. Each one of those elements is key to our well-being and should be developed independently as building blocks for happiness, so when circumstances of life knock one out, you have the rest to help you endure.
Spiritual well-being: It alludes to our sense of purpose and meaning in the activities we do, focusing on living mindfully in the here and now. It's not limited to religious beliefs, since you can be an atheist but cultivate a deep sense of meaning in the things you do.
After his experiences in concentration Camps, Dr. Viktor Frankl developed a form of psychotherapy- Logotherapy- around humans' innate desire to find meaning.
Reverting to your purpose when your energy or motivation dwindles, can sustain you during hard times.
Physical well-being: it focuses on the care of one's body. It emphasizes the mind-body connection and the impact that physical health has on overall well-being. This can include exercise, nutrition, sleep, and other aspects of physical health. In this fast-paced world, with an emphasis on being productive and meeting deadlines, physical care is often the first thing we sacrifice, without understanding that the trade-off is, paradoxically, being less productive.
Intellectual Well-being: engaging the mind in learning, problem-solving, creativity, and intellectual growth. It involves stimulating the mind, staying curious, and continually learning and challenging oneself. Many people find refuge in intellectual challenges in moments of hardship. For Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, seeking endeavors where skills align perfectly with the challenges faced, lead to a sense of joy and creativity, and the optimal experience known as flow.
Relational Well-being: This element centers on the quality of one's relationships with others and with oneself. It involves fostering healthy, supportive, and meaningful connections with people and having a positive relationship with oneself.
In their book “Ikigai”, Hector García and Francesc Miralles, make a beautiful description of the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Japanese Island of Okinawa, citing closely bonded connections as one of the factors that contribute to their quality of life and longevity.
The citizens belong to a moai, a small group of people that collect money to invest in social outings for the group and, in case one of the members falls in hard times, they can ask the Moai for financial assistance.
The example that sparked this whole article is another excellent example of how your healthy relationships can contribute to your emotional stability in hard times.
Emotional Well-being: Emotional well-being is about balancing and honoring one's emotions. It includes understanding and managing both positive and negative emotions, cultivating positive feelings like joy and gratitude, and effectively navigating through challenging emotions.
Many people are under the misapprehension that one should never have negative emotions or even bad days. Emotions like anger, anxiety, anguish, fear, and even hate, are part of our emotional repertoire for a reason and, even though one should not invite them to stay with us for a long time, sometimes those emotions are a natural response to what’s happening, and you shouldn’t judge yourself for having them: feeling guilt about your emotions delays dealing with the thoughts that generated them, and letting others shame you for what you feel opens you up to manipulation or “gaslighting”.
That said, remember that emotions are fleeting, whatever you are feeling now may not be how you feel later. Psychologist Sheri Van Dijk suggests thinking of emotions as waves. She explains that emotions rise and peak, much like a wave does, but then they naturally diminish and fade, this pattern may repeat, with emotions peaking and subsiding again.
In conclusion, the inspiring story of the young woman and her friends' support, viewed through the lens of antifragility, underscores the profound impact of nurturing all aspects of our well-being. The SPIRE model, encompassing Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional well-being, is not just a framework for personal development but a blueprint for building resilience and strength in the face of life's unpredictability. By actively cultivating each element of SPIRE, we equip ourselves to not only withstand the challenges of life but to emerge from them stronger and more connected to our purpose and to each other. This holistic approach to wellbeing empowers us to transform adversities into opportunities for growth, embodying the very essence of antifragility and leading to a richer, more fulfilling life.
Ben- Shahar, Tal. (2021) Happier, No Matter What: Cultivating Hope, Resilience, and Purpose in Hard Times. The Experiment
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: the psychology of optimal experience. 1st Harper Perennial Modern Classics ed. New York, Harper Perennial.
Frankl, Viktor E. (1962). Man's search for meaning: an introduction to logotherapy. Boston, Beacon Press.
García, H., Miralles, F., & Cleary, H. (2017). Ikigai: the Japanese secret to a long and happy life. New York, Penguin Books.
Taleb, N. N. (2013). Antifragile: things that gain from disorder. Penguin Books.
Sheri Van Dijk, M., Sheri Van Dijk, M., & Randye Kaye (2021). DBT Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Tantor Media, Inc.
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