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Even when faced with a difficult situation, we can often still take action.

Leadership can come from anyone, not just the biggest or strongest.

Resilience is about about keeping going even when it's hard.

When news headlines are dominated by conflict and uncertainty, it can be easy to overlook smaller stories of resilience, connection, and hope. A recent small but inspiring story focused on a group of seven dogs in China who were stolen from their neighbourhood, only to escape captivity and find their way home together.

Led by a brave little corgi, the group navigated unfamiliar terrain together as they sought to get back to their homes and families. Along the way, they protected their most vulnerable member, an elderly German shepherd, with their own bodies and ensuring that he wasn’t left behind. A witness told Chinese media outlet Dahe Daily, “They resemble a band of little brothers in distress, moving in unison – nothing like stray dogs.”

At first glance, this might seem like nothing more than a momentary feel-good news story—a brief, uplifting moment that offers a quick emotional boost. But look a little closer, and it actually reveals something more meaningful, offering up powerful lessons about psychology, resilience, and leadership.

Lesson 1: Leadership comes in unexpected forms

We often associate leadership with strength, status, or authority, however Thelma & Ngulube (2024) found that effective psychological leadership is often more about direction, confidence, and action. The corgi wasn’t the biggest dog in the group, but it didn’t need to be. It just needed to be the first one to move and keep going, encouraging the others to follow. It can be tough to be the first one to act, or to be the one to reach out and offer help if no one else has, but all it takes is for one person to step up and others will often follow.

Lesson 2: Resilience can look like just putting one foot (or paw) in front of another

Resilience is about more than just toughness; it’s being able to continue on despite fear, uncertainty, or setbacks. Ross et al (2024) suggested that resilience can be broadly defined as the capacity of a society, or individual to bounce back and recover from change and stress, regardless of the size and nature of the stressor. These dogs didn’t have an easy road ahead of them. They were lost and probably quite frightened but still they kept going until they made it home. We can take heart from this and be reminded that when life feels overwhelming, being resilient doesn’t mean that we need to have everything figured out. Often, it just means taking the next step towards where we want to be and not giving up.

Lesson 3: We’re stronger together

One of the most powerful elements of this story is how the dogs stayed together. Footage of them walking along a highway showed how they carefully surrounded the injured German shepherd, while the Corgi at the front repeatedly looked back to ensure none were left behind. They didn’t leave the older dog just because he had different needs. They adapted their behaviour to accommodate and protect him. Proctor et al (2023) explored links between physical health and social interaction, and found that connection plays an important part in not only our psychological wellbeing, but also our social and physical health. In other words, connecting with others is critical for our overall well-being and can make all the difference in our ability to keep going when things get tough.

Lesson 4: Take time to reflect on the positive

A group of lost dogs finding their way home might seem like a small story in the grand scheme of things. However, the emotions they inspired in those who read the story are incalculable. When life is tough, it can be easy to feel stuck or see problems as being too great to overcome, yet stories like the seven dogs finding their way home remind us to be hopeful, and that we can all keep moving forward, especially when we’re not doing it alone.

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The amazing group of seven dogs didn’t just escape. They worked together, kept moving even when they could only take small steps, embraced leadership and connection, and protected the most vulnerable among them. Inspiration doesn’t always come from the flashiest, most high-profile places. Sometimes, it looks like a small group of dogs on a long journey, with the quiet determination to keep going until they finally make it home.

Proctor, A. S., Barth, A., & Holt‐Lunstad, J. (2023). A healthy lifestyle is a social lifestyle: The vital link between social connection and health outcomes. Lifestyle Medicine, 4(4), e91.

Ross, P. M., Scanes, E., & Locke, W. (2024). Stress adaptation and resilience of academics in higher education. Asia Pacific Education Review, 25(4), 829-849.

Thelma, C. C., & Ngulube, L. (2024). Women in leadership: Examining barriers to women's advancement in leadership positions. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 18(6), 273-290.

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