12/18/2025
Let’s be honest—life can throw some serious curveballs. Whether it’s an unexpected loss, a stressful job, or the 57th time you’ve had to reset a forgotten password (why isn’t “password123” good enough?!), we all face challenges that can shake us up. But here’s the good news: while we can’t always control what happens to us, we can strengthen the things within us and around us that help us stay steady through it all.
These things are called protective factors—the inner and outer resources that help us be our most resilient selves in the face of adversity. Think of them as your emotional armor or your personal toolkit. The more well-stocked your kit, the better prepared you are when life gets messy.
In this blog, Sarah Davidson, LPC will help explore four key protective factors: social support, physical health, sense of purpose, and self-esteem. She will help walk through a simple reflection exercise so you can identify which areas are feeling strong and which could use a little care and attention.
Strengthen resilience with protective factors like support, self-esteem, purpose, and wellness. Learn how to build emotional stability, one step at a time.