The Role of ‘Values’ in Resilience

Many reading this post will be familiar with the now entrenched Alcoholics Anonymous, ‘Serenity Prayer’. Whether or not you are religious or even spiritually inclined, you’ll have encountered this as very much part of a 90 year (and going strong) therapeutic community staple. The commonly recited shorter version goes as follows:

‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

The actual source of the original offering was from Ethicist and Theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr who penned the more complete following version in the early 1930’s…

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it; Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.”*

The Imperative Affective Domain of Education

The following research reveals again the need to embrace the indispensable arena of the Affective Domain of Education for best practice protective behaviours development. The imperatives of positive behaviour developing protocols have never been more crucial. Ethics, morals and/or other anthropologically sound behavioural guidelines are a key factor in framing decision making and managing stimuli in the developing human.

The science is in on this; adolescents are more likely to ‘resist temptation’ and delay substance use when key brain networks for self-control are strong and well-connected, especially those linking the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).

Core finding: A seven-year study of 91 teens (ages 14–21) found that stronger connectivity between the dACC and dlPFC predicted later onset of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, while weakening of this connection preceded substance initiation and higher use. These regions support cognitive control—the ability to notice temptation, pause, and choose actions based on goals and values rather than impulses.

Brain development and resisting temptation: The dACC helps detect important or conflicting stimuli, while the dlPFC helps plan, weigh consequences, and inhibit automatic responses. When these circuits are robust and coordinated, teenagers are better able to regulate emotion, manage peer pressure, and say no to risky offers, even in high-stress or high-reward situations.

Why values and the affective domain matter? Because these control systems are still developing in adolescence, the kinds of values, beliefs, and ethical frameworks young people internalise can either support or undermine how the brain handles temptation and threat. This aligns with Rollo May’s insight that strong, internalised values can help a person face anxiety and threat; in neural terms, value-guided goals help the control networks override short-term urges toward substance use.

Implications for building resilience

The research suggests that prevention should not wait for visible problem behaviour but should focus early on strengthening cognitive control and value-based decision-making. Practices that integrate emotional education, moral reasoning, and healthy routines (sleep, stress management, prosocial involvement) help support the maturation of these control networks, giving adolescents a stronger brain-based shield against substance-related temptation.

Where does DBT Fit?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was a late comer to psycho-social therapy. It was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan and its aim was to help people live more fulfilling lives by learning to accept themselves and others, cope with difficult emotions, and improve their relationships. (Not long after another variation of this was launched called A.C.T – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and not dissimilar to DBT)

Earlier in that decade, world-renowned psychotherapist Rollo May asserted that individuals could overcome anxiety to the extent that their values are greater than the threat they face. When people identify and consistently act according to their values, like behavioural moral/ethical principles, including honesty, kindness, truth-based wisdom and/or growth—they build inner resources to weather adversity and maintain hope during setbacks. Values serve as an anchor, fueling motivation for change and providing a sense of purpose throughout DBT and beyond.

DBT: Core Principles and Resilience Skills

Each of the key following principles of DBT can, not unsurprisingly, be found in the ‘serenity prayer’. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) blends traditional CBT with mindfulness and acceptance, teaching four essential skills:

• Mindfulness: Fosters present-moment awareness and acceptance, helping individuals avoid being overwhelmed by stressors.
• Distress Tolerance: Equips people to accept difficult emotions and cope with crises without resorting to destructive behaviors, using techniques like radical acceptance, distraction, and self-soothing.
• Emotion Regulation: Supports learning how to identify and manage intense emotions, reduce vulnerability to negative feelings, and increase positive experiences.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Enhances communication, sets boundaries, and creates healthier, more resilient relationships.
• Building Mastery for Lasting Resilience: “Building mastery” is a DBT technique that involves undertaking daily activities that foster a sense of competence and achievement. Instead of focusing solely on grand accomplishments, mastery is built through small, meaningful challenges that enhance control and confidence—directly strengthening emotional resilience and shielding against overwhelming emotions and setbacks.

Each aspect is aimed at building resilience by increasing coping capabilities and providing tools for navigating life’s challenges.