When the going gets tough, do you have be tough too?

Dear Reader, When the going gets tough, do you have be tough too? Do you get tougher when times are tough? Does being strong and perseverant automatically mean slogging it out and suffering or just getting over it? I have a relatively high pain threshold and die-hard optimism. Both have been a gift and a curse at different professional and personal moments– a curse particularly when I’ve overused them to struggle and cope in bad situations longer than I should have rather quitting...