Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsBrilliant collection of tools you can use to survive-- and even thrive-- through life challenges
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2018
I love this book! In Resilience, Linda Graham offers a wonderful variety of short practices you can use to maintain your emotional equilibrium during any life stress or crisis. Combining elements of mindfulness, imagery, and movement-- the practices are both enjoyable and easy to implement in the middle of a busy day. Linda also breaks the tools into categories so they are easy to find right when you need them. If you need something to help you calm physical anxiety-- you can find tools in her somatic intelligence chapter. If you're overwhelmed with anger, guilt, or negative thoughts-- she's got sections for that. Need something to help you in a relationship during stress? -- she's got a chapter for that with practices that you and a loved one can even do together.
Linda's also assembled the practices into sections based on the intensity of stress or crisis you are in. For example, when it's a mild stressor, it's easier for us to access the rational brain and adjust our thoughts to improve how we're feeling. But, when you're in a devastating, overwhelming situation, it's hard to think clearly and our energy can be low. In situations like this, it's best to use easy practices that help you comfort yourself and don't demand much energy or thinking. With her keen insight into the way the brain functions under stress, Linda understands this and shows you how to adapt the tools according to your needs.
Last, Linda helps you understand how each of these practices can actually strengthen your brain and nervous system's capacity for resilience. These practices don't just help you feel better in the moment, they can literally help you create new neuropathways in your brain that can mitigate anxiety and depression. I'm a therapist who has used Linda's tools and can attest to their effectiveness in calming, uplifting, and reassuring people during tough times. This is really a book that everyone should have on their book shelves. A brilliant collection of tools you can use to survive-- and even thrive-- through any life challenge.
