True or false: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?

True! Turns out being faced with obstacles isn't all bad. A new American study revealed they can actually make us better prepared for future problems. In other words? "Our research shows what doesn't kill you might in fact make you stronger," says lead researcher Mark Seery. They found people who had experienced hardship before a back injury got around better than those who hadn't. "We don't know exactly why, but one possible explanation is that exposure to adversity can 'toughen' people, making them more likely to perceive stressful situations as manageable rather than overwhelming," says Seery. So if you're going through a rough period, Seery hopes his research will provide encouragement.

Remember this: "Things may seem bad now, but there really can be a silver lining," says Seery. "It's possible you might even emerge better off than before. Even very serious problems can help someone become more resilient."