Experiencing adversity . . ? Then you’re suffering, right?
Not necessarily, of course. At some level we all understand that emotional resilience is situational; we sometimes have it and sometimes lose it. We know that adversity can draw out and develop personal strengths. Resilience is not a rare quality limited to confident optimists with few negative attitudes.
We may also accept that personal resilience is our own responsibility. Almost everyone has a degree of mental robustness and buoyancy that can be enhanced with practice. With it, we get through times of hardship faster and work better at everything we do. A calm, smooth-running mind saves wear and tear on the nervous system and provides vitality in the face of stress.
But this understanding is not always sufficient for us to find composure in the midst of challenging turbulence.
What can we introduce to our everyday lives for greater personal resilience when we need it most?
Even Under Pressure is a book written for those who want answers to that question, especially the increasing numbers of us experiencing the pace and weight of externally-imposed change. There are strong themes of stress reduction and prevention, developing mindfulness, emotional agility and attitude management practices, limiting conflict, containing a crisis, and action-planning for progress. The book describes and guides simple self-management practices designed to –
- Prepare for difficulties, hardship and stressful times
- Remain even in outlook and attitude under increasing pressure
- Navigate successfully through misfortune
- Recover from setbacks and unwelcome change
- Use adverse experiences to develop character and increase our capacity for thriving.
Even Under Pressure draws on Tom Watkins’ dedication to releasing energy for personal and organisational progress during his 35 years of professional coaching, training and mentoring in New Zealand and Australia.
In this book he introduces a wide range of initiatives, strategies and habits of mind that support immediate progress and longer-term development of greater personal resilience.
“[T]his is a great book to have on hand and an excellent go-to in times of adversity when you need all the help you can get to stay centred. It’s a practical guide that you can easily dip into for simple tips on becoming more resilient and to remind yourself of what you’re truly capable of. [T]he content is science-based and promotes solid methods commonly practiced by mental wellbeing professionals . . . What I found really useful were the chapter summaries – What? So What? Now What? – which provide reflections to consider the patterns of your thoughts and behaviours, and provide challenges to get on the right track.” [August 2016 review by Paulette Crowley, freelance health writer, for Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.]
Now available only as an eBook. Contact the author for details.
Tom Watkins
Tom has owned a number of professional training and consultancy business, coached several other consultant trainers and facilitators into successful careers, and authored a range of well-respected publications.
