Resilience refers to one's ability to “bounce back” from adversity. When faced with a difficult life event – for example, the sudden loss of a loved one – resilient individuals are able to successfully cope with, or adapt to, the associated stress.The Importance of Resilience. Resilience (or resiliency) is our ability to adapt and bounce back when things don't go as planned. Resilient people don't wallow or dwell on failures; they acknowledge the situation, learn from their mistakes, and then move forward.