Entrepreneur and author Chris Donnelly shared a widely circulated visual framework breaking down the core components of mental resilience, arguing that resilience—not talent or resources—is what separates the successful from those who quit under pressure.

“Resilience isn’t strength. It’s showing up when it’s hardest,” wrote Donnelly in a LinkedIn post. “Every single successful person I know has deep resilience. Yet it’s not talked about enough.”

His post outlines the Six Domains of Resilience: Vision, Health, Tenacity, Reasoning, Composure, and Collaboration. Each domain touches on a foundational aspect of personal strength—from goal-setting and emotional intelligence to physical wellness and social support.

To help individuals cultivate these traits, Donnelly offered six methods for increasing resilience:

1. Goggins 40% Rule – Push past the mental quit point, which arrives long before physical exhaustion.
2. Cognitive Reframing – Identify and challenge negative thoughts, replacing them with rational and evidence-based perspectives.
3. Premeditatio Malorum – A Stoic technique encouraging individuals to prepare for worst-case scenarios to reduce anxiety.
4. McGonigal’s Challenge Response – Reframe stress as energy to be harnessed rather than avoided.
5. Stockdale Paradox – Face the brutal facts without losing hope or direction.
6. The 5×5 Rule – If it won’t matter in five years, spend no more than five minutes being upset by it.

Donnelly emphasized that resilience is not just for crisis moments—it’s what enables people to consistently pursue long-term goals, remain productive, and bounce back quickly from setbacks. “Your mental strength is your best defense against life’s challenges,” he added.

Chris Donnelly is the founder of the Step by Step newsletter and a frequent voice on performance, entrepreneurship, and mindset. His work focuses on actionable strategies to help individuals overcome internal and external resistance on the path to success.