海角大神

Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokin could be considered the epitome of resilience. Or grit. Or perhaps, 鈥渟颈蝉耻.鈥澛�

This past weekend, Mr. Sorokin聽 that鈥檚 stood since 1997 by running 309.4 kilometers (the equivalent of seven consecutive marathons) in 24 hours. He鈥檚 a rock star in ultrarunning circles. This is his fourth world record this year.

In an April interview, Mr. Sorokin said the middle of a race is often the most mentally challenging, 鈥�.鈥� He says it takes patience. Elite ultramarathoners, say researchers, have a , which is described as 鈥渟elf-efficacy,鈥� that is confidence, commitment, or control over one鈥檚 thoughts.

Finnish researcher Emilia Lahti says her people have a unique term for fortitude in the face of adversity: .鈥� She says 鈥渟颈蝉耻鈥� is not willpower or perseverance, and it isn鈥檛 the same as resilience. 鈥淭he core of resilience is this idea to bounce back,鈥� she notes. But 鈥溌燼 mindset that challenges adversity.聽

Ms. Lahti, a survivor of domestic violence, notes that 鈥渟颈蝉耻鈥� is not unique to Finland but a universal mindset. And our 鈥渟颈蝉耻鈥� can be enhanced by others. 鈥淚 believe that when 鈥榮isu,鈥� this inner, amazing, beautiful power that we have, when that is met with social support, compassion, and love, there are very few things that are impossible to us,鈥� she says.

I suspect that Mr. Sorokin would agree.