Definition
We define survivor's pride as the well-deserved feeling of accomplishment that results from persisting in the face of hardship or adversity. It is a bittersweet mixture of pain and triumph that is usually under the surface, but is sometimes readily visible in many youth and adults who have gone through difficult circumstances. It develops over time in the course of a struggle that typically goes unnoticed in professional and lay circles more likely to document problems and deficits in people than their strengths. It is not a rare feeling; nor is it limited to those with dazzling success. In our work, we have been able to find survivor's pride even in young people with on-going struggles and whose claim to a satisfying life is far from secure.
Practical Applications of Survivor's Pride
By identifying and acknowledging survivor's pride, practitioners can reach youth more effectively and more constructively than by focusing on their pathology and attempting to "fix" their problems. Recognizing survivor's pride motivates positive change by:
- conveying respect and honoring the struggle of a youth, by which we mean seeing their behavior and the choices they make in the context of the difficult lives they lead.
- shifting the self-image of a youth from "damaged goods" to "one who prevails."
- providing evidence that a youth has been capable of meeting challenges in the past and can do so again.
- uncovering a youth's method for succeeding in the past that he or she can duplicate in the present.
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... Listen to youth talking about survivor's pride ... on the "Survivor's Pride" videos |