Resilient by Rick Hanson, Ph.D. (2018)

This soothing self-help book subtitled, How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness, strives to teach the reader how to make positive thoughts more dominant than negative thoughts. Throughout this book, there are various easy exercises to be done which are said to help activate and retrain the neurotransmitters in our brains into becoming more healthy and balanced. Each chapter is summed up at the end with key points to reinforce what was learned.

The author has developed a 4-point concept which he uses throughout the book to assist the reader in developing a more beneficial thought process, called H.E.A.L. It is basically a way of turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts by changing what you focus on. Some of the topics also covered in this book are: ways to limit self-criticism and learn to be more compassionate and nurturing towards oneself, techniques to deal with fear and anxiety, and how to become more assertive.

As I read this book over a period of several weeks, I had to keep referring back to the chapter that explained the H.E.A.L. process in order to remind myself what I was supposed to do. The book failed to make a lasting impression on me. In addition, I found that the steps outlined in the book were not practical when currently in a situation of high stress. However, it is helpful for curbing one’s thoughts when anticipating a stressful circumstance or after one has occurred. I would recommend this book to people who struggle with overactive thinking when not experiencing a highly stressful situation at that moment.