Resilience, Identity, and Leadership: Women of Faith and the Power of an Internal Locus of Control
As the head of a nonprofit committed to empowering women of faith in leadership, I am excited to introduce this series on resilience and identity. Understanding resilience not just as the ability to "bounce back," but as a deeply rooted strength fostered by faith, purpose, and self-awareness, is essential for women stepping into transformative leadership roles.
Resilience, as defined by Luthar, Cicchetti, and Becker (2000), is "a dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity." For women of faith, this adaptation often relates to spiritual beliefs and practices that affirm their inherent worth and purpose. In many faith traditions, identity extends beyond individual traits and includes a transcendent element—being created intentionally, called to serve, and sustained by hope.
A key psychological factor that affects resilience is the internal locus of control, a term introduced by Julian Rotter (1966). An internal locus of control means believing that individuals have influence over life events, rather than viewing outcomes as primarily determined by external forces or fate. Research consistently shows that people with an internal locus of control are more likely to use proactive coping strategies, stay motivated during setbacks, and demonstrate stronger leadership skills (Lefcourt, 1991).
For women of faith, developing an internal locus of control does not reduce trust in divine providence. Instead, it reinforces the idea that faith empowers rather than hinders. As Viktor Frankl (1984) noted, finding meaning is essential to endurance. When women base their identities on spiritual purpose, they often find the courage to act decisively, even in overwhelming circumstances.
Consider these reflective questions as you explore your relationship with resilience:
How does my faith influence my feelings of agency during challenging times?
How can I attribute success to my choices and actions rather than external factors?
How can I strengthen my internal locus of control while remaining grounded in spiritual trust?
Over the next few weeks, this series will highlight stories of resilient women leaders, utilize research from positive psychology and leadership studies, and offer practices to help you blend faith, identity, and resilient action.
Together, we can redefine what it means to lead with both confidence and flexibility.
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References
Frankl, V. E. (1984). Man's Search for Meaning. Washington Square Press.
Lefcourt, H. M. (1991). Locus of Control. In J.P. Robinson, P.R. Shaver, & L.S. Wrightsman (Eds.), Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes. Academic Press.
Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.
Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80(1), 1–28.