What does resilience actually look like when life is heavy and you're tired of being told to "just push through"?

In this episode, Melie sits down with Eric Davis, combat-decorated U.S. Navy SEAL and author of Raising Men, to talk about a grounded, practical definition of resilience that goes far beyond grit and hustle. Instead of white-knuckling hardship, Eric reframes resilience as maintaining and restoring your capacity to take action—especially in hard seasons like burnout, divorce, grief, or rebuilding.

Together, they explore purpose, passion, rest, habits, and why so many high-achieving people end up exhausted instead of fulfilled.

• Why resilience isn't the same as perseverance

• How to reduce unnecessary damage during stressful seasons

• A simple practice Eric uses when stress won't let go

• The difference between purpose (what you're here to do) and passion (how you do it)

• Why chasing titles and outcomes often leads to burnout

• The role of sleep, rest, and recovery in real resilience

• Why trying to do life alone makes everything harder

• How purpose can become an anchor when your identity feels shaken

• Eric Davis's website

• Free e-book, Habits of Heroes

• Eric's book, Raising Men (Amazon)

• Book recommendation: The Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado (Amazon)

Resilience isn't about pushing harder. It's about protecting your energy, restoring your capacity, and building a life that can actually hold you—especially when things fall apart.

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who could use a steadier way forward.