Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor A deep dive into Psychological and Physiological Hardiness , with Paul and Carly Taylor
Jan 16, 2026
In this insightful conversation, Paul Taylor—a psychophysiologist and author—discusses the fascinating concept of hardiness compared to resilience. He shares his personal history, including his experience with open heart surgery and how he reframed it as a challenge. Paul emphasizes the four C's: control, challenge, commitment, and connection, and presents evidence that hardiness can be developed. He also outlines practical steps to cultivate a hardiness mindset in both adults and children, while highlighting the role of connection in stress and recovery.
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Framing Surgery As A Worthy Opponent
- Dr. Paul Taylor framed his open heart surgery as a 'worthy opponent' drawn from Stoic philosophy to find purpose in adversity.
- He used that framing to channel excitement and focused preparation rather than paralysis by fear.
Optimize Yourself Before Surgery
- Prepare scientifically for major medical procedures by optimizing fitness, sleep, and understanding risks and recovery strategies.
- Control what you can (fitness, nutrition, knowledge) to improve recovery odds and reduce anxiety.
Hardiness Versus Resilience
- Hardiness prepares you before stress and enables growth from it, while resilience describes bouncing back after events.
- Hardiness has clearer definitions and stronger predictive research in high-pressure fields than resilience.
