Book Byte #308 "Resilient" by Rick Hanson
How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness
📣 Curious Quotes from the Author
“There is a saying in Tibet: “If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.” What’s the most important minute in life? I think it’s the next one. There is nothing we can do about the past, and we have limited influence over the hours and days to come. But the next minute—minute after minute after minute—is always full of possibility.”
“It is simply about appreciating what is also true: such as flowers and sunlight, paper clips and fresh water, the kindness of others, easy access to knowledge and wisdom, and light at the flick of a switch.”
“The Reactive mode tears us down, while the Responsive mode builds us up. Adversity is certainly an opportunity to develop resilience, stress-hardiness, and even post-traumatic growth. But for a person to grow through adversity, there must also be Responsive resources present such as determination and sense of purpose. Plus most opportunities in daily life to experience and develop mental resources do not involve adversity: there is simply a moment of relaxation, gratitude, enthusiasm, self-worth, or kindness.”
“We develop mental resources in two stages. First, we need to experience what we want to grow, such as feeling grateful, loved, or confident. Second—critically important—we must convert that passing experience into a lasting change in the nervous system.”
“Well-being comes from meeting our needs, not denying them. When we experience that our needs are sufficiently met, the body and mind enter the “green zone” Responsive mode, and there is a sense of peace, contentment, and love. When needs feel unmet, we’re disturbed into the fight-flight-freeze “red zone” Reactive mode, and there is a sense of fear, frustration, and hurt.”
“Mindfulness helps you open up to the deeper layers of yourself.”
“You are settling into simply being in the present, letting go of the past and not fearing or planning the future. Nothing to fix, no other place to go, no one you have to be. Rest and relax as a whole body breathing.”
“the importance of developing grit in the first place for the challenges you know about and the ones waiting around the corner to surprise you.”
“Try to see the big picture. Whatever has happened is probably a short chapter in the long book of your life.”
📚 Cognition of the Book’s Big Idea
Utilizing your own assets and strengths is a key component of resilience. By generating pleasant experiences and integrating them into your everyday existence, you can strengthen your stable inner core. You can strengthen your mental faculties to learn how to handle hardship, maintain composure under duress, and get the self-assurance needed to pursue your goals. And here's a little more practical guidance. Track your progress. As you work toward a goal, keep an eye out for indications of progress to boost your drive.
Take note of your accomplishments, no matter how minor. Your brain will feel more rewarded the more successful experiences you accrue. Try to feel a sense of success as you respond to each of the 50 emails in your inbox, for instance. In this manner, you can remain in the rewarding condition of healthy passion and the task won't feel so onerous.
Until Tomorrow,
Jason (Founder Club255)