what doesn't kill you makes you stronger except bears

Lemon

2 min read

·

05-02-2025

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The popular adage, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," is a motivational mantra often used to encourage resilience in the face of adversity. While generally true in many aspects of life, this saying has a notable exception: bears. This isn't to say that surviving a bear encounter won't leave you with some kind of strength, but the kind of strength gained is likely to be less about personal growth and more about survival.

The Psychology of Resilience

The phrase taps into the psychological concept of post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG refers to the positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises. Facing adversity, overcoming obstacles, and learning from setbacks can lead to increased self-efficacy, a stronger sense of purpose, and deeper appreciation for life. This is the "stronger" part of the adage.

Examples of experiences that often contribute to PTG include:

• Overcoming illness: Battling a serious illness can foster resilience, gratitude, and a renewed appreciation for life's simple pleasures.
• Navigating difficult relationships: Working through relationship challenges can lead to improved communication skills and a better understanding of oneself and others.
• Achieving challenging goals: The process of setting and achieving ambitious goals can build confidence, discipline, and a sense of accomplishment.

These experiences, while difficult, often contribute to positive personal growth. However, encounters with bears present a different scenario.

Bears: A Unique Exception

Bears are apex predators, powerful and dangerous animals. An encounter with a bear, especially a predatory attack, is not a challenge you can overcome and learn from in the same way as the examples above. Survival itself is the primary goal, and the consequences of failure are often fatal. While surviving a bear attack might demonstrate resilience and survival skills, it's unlikely to contribute to the same kind of positive personal growth associated with PTG.

Here's why bears are a distinct exception:

• High mortality rate: Bear attacks often result in serious injury or death. The focus is purely on survival, not on learning and growth.
• Trauma: The experience is intensely traumatic and can lead to long-term psychological effects, such as PTSD. This isn't the positive transformation implied by the adage.
• Lack of control: You have very little control in a bear encounter. Unlike other challenges, you can't strategize your way to a positive outcome; the focus is on immediate reactions and survival instincts.
• Physical impact: The physical injuries from a bear attack often require extensive rehabilitation, potentially hindering personal growth rather than fostering it.

A Reframing of the Adage

While "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" serves as a motivational tool, it's crucial to understand its limitations. The saying is a simplification of a complex process. Some experiences, like encounters with bears, are so intensely traumatic and dangerous that the focus shifts entirely from growth to mere survival. Therefore, a more nuanced approach might be: "What doesn't kill you might make you stronger, provided it's an experience that allows for reflection, learning, and personal growth." Bears, unfortunately, fall outside this qualification.