Written By Cari Borden

Let’s talk about the word of the decade: resilience. Companies love to throw it around like confetti at a corporate pep rally. “Be resilient.” “Show resilience.” “We admire your resilience.”
Translation? We’ll keep piling on impossible workloads, toxic managers, and shifting priorities… but don’t you dare crumble, or else you’re the problem.

The Illusion of Praise
Resilience is framed as a compliment. “Wow, you’ve really bounced back.” Except it’s not bouncing back, it’s dragging yourself out of bed with caffeine, anxiety, and the nagging thought that maybe you should’ve just stayed in bed.

Gaslighting 101
Corporate gaslighting looks like this:

• Overwork → “You’re growing through challenges.”
• Lack of support → “We want you to take ownership.”
• Toxic leadership → “This is a chance to build character.”
• Layoffs all around you → “We admire how calm you’re staying.”

Instead of addressing the dysfunction, they hand you a shiny badge called “resilient” and expect you to wear it proudly.

Reality Check
True resilience is about recovering from life’s curveballs, not tolerating a workplace that thrives on chaos and calls it “culture.” If you’re being applauded for resilience at work, ask yourself:

• Am I really resilient?
• Or am I just surviving in a system that refuses to change?

Final Thought
Resilience should be a tool we use for our lives, not a crutch to justify corporate neglect. Don’t confuse survival with strength. If your company demands constant resilience but never accountability, it might not be you that needs to adapt, it might be them.

✨ CTA: If this hit home, follow me here for more no-fluff leadership truths, and if you’re ready to take the next step, find me on Fiverr for mentorship and coaching.