Tatianna Miller, a clinical health and wellness counselor and corporate consultant, espoused this key message in a recent AWIS webinar and focused on the importance of resilience for those working in demanding STEM fields. Miller offers support to professionals who want to improve strategic self-development and emotional intelligence skills so that they can better navigate highpressure environments.
In the webinar, she emphasized that resilience lies at the heart of successful scientific work. Whether we work in research or any other profession, our ability to adapt, pivot, and learn from setbacks is essential. Every experiment, every breakthrough, and even every failure contributes to building resilience, she explained.
A central theme of her presentation was that life is unpredictable—a roller coaster of highs, lows, and everything in between. Miller urged us to stop trying to control external circumstances and to focus instead on how we respond to life’s challenges. This intention requires to manage it effectively. Stress, she explains, is actually a building block of resilience. Crucially, we must strive for flexibility in how we adjust our plans and manage our emotional responses when things don’t go as expected. self-awareness, reflection, and an openness to change. Just as scientists remain open to unexpected results in their experiments, so too must we stay open to the twists and turns that life presents.
Miller warns of the danger of clinging to unrealistic expectations about careers, relationships, or personal achievements. These illusions can lead to disappointment, especially for women who often juggle professional and family responsibilities. Such disappointment, in turn, can make life feel like mere survival rather than like a journey toward fulfillment. By shifting our focus inward, acknowledging our current reality, and staying open to change, we can foster a healthier, more resilient mindset.
Another key aspect of resilience involves stress management. Miller says that we have to do much more than simply accept stress as a normal part of life; we also need to learn how to manage it effectively. Stress, she explains, is actually a building block of resilience. Crucially, we must strive for flexibility in how we adjust our plans and manage our emotional responses when things don’t go as expected.
Finally, Miller emphasized that our thoughts, feelings, and experiences directly influence our physical and emotional well-being. We must learn to track our emotional patterns, maintain strong social connections, and practice daily stress-management techniques, all essential components of emotional intelligence.
To learn more about building resilience and emotional intelligence, you can watch the replay of Tatianna Miller’s webinar or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Jade Forde graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s in communication and master’s degree in digital strategy from the University of Florida. She has almost ten years of experience in social media, content creation, website maintenance, online communities, graphic design, newsletters, and email marketing.