Can you train resilience into grad students or postdocs?

As I’ve noted on these pages before, my sole detectable talent for this career is the ability to take a punch.

There are a lot of punches in academic science. A lot of rejection and the congratulations for a job well done are few and far between. Nobody ever tells you that you are doing enough.

“Looking good, Assistant Professor! Just keep this up, maybe even chill a little now and then, and tenure will be no problem!” – said no Chair ever.

My concern is that resilience in the face of constant rejection, belittling and unkind comparisons of your science to the true rock stars in a Lake Wobegon approach can have a selection effect. Only certain personality types can stand this.

I happen to have one of these personality types but it is not something of any particular credit. I was born and/or made this way by my upbringing. I cannot say anyone helped to train me in this way as an academic scientist*.

So I am at a complete loss as to how to help my trainees with this.

Have you any insights Dear Reader? From your own development as a scientist or as a supervisor of other scientists?

Related Reading: Tales of postdocs past: what did I learn?
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*well maybe indirectly. And not in a way I care to extend to any trainee of mine thankyewveerymuch.