If there was ever a time we needed help in coping and dealing with tough times, it's today. I'm a big believer in positive psychology and I'm proactive in spreading its message both in my work (I'm a Special care Counsellor in psychogeriatrics) and in my personal life. Here are three products that have been useful in keeping a smile on my face.
Published July 7th 2020 by Purple Dove Press
My Review:
Although a short book at only 87 pages, The Language of Deep Forgiveness is the perfect book to clarify and to help one truly understand the meaning of forgiveness. It's a book that makes you get unstuck from not being able to see past the hurt someone has done to us. Forgiveness is about giving ourselves peace of mind and the fortitude to move forward, but this is not so easily done. Even when we think we may have forgiven someone, deep down we may still have resentment and bitterness that can subtly eat at us.
This book was very eye-opening and enlightening. It has taught me about myself, has made me reflect deeply on how I have forgiven others. This book has made me understand forgiveness through the language that speaks to the heart in terms that the heart can understand. It was like a light bulb went off in my head! The author has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is also a Christian. His explanations were intelligent, concise and included a spiritual element that most psychology books do not. I will read it again and again because the process can take much reflection. Truly a book that can help us find peace of mind and move forward.
Published April 25, 2020 by The Happiness Center; 1st Edition
My Review:
This book came at the right time. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with one catastrophe after another: a global pandemic, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, riots, and the list goes on. The authors wrote and published this book during the first wave of the pandemic this past spring so the information is very relevant. I read it as I was experiencing all the different changes that the lockdown and restrictions brought about and it helped me to cope!
The 7 keys discussed are not new concepts but simple truths that have proven to help in times of crisis, with the authors using examples from the coronavirus pandemic, making this a timely book that we can all relate to. The information can be put to practice immediately. It's a practical guidebook, with each chapter ending with points to ponder, questions to consider, and actions that can be taken. It's easy to read, only 122 pages, and gives us much on which to contemplate. I read a chapter a week and reflected on the wise counsel throughout my days.
If you love books that offer practical insight and help you be a better person, especially when times get tough, this one is a perfect read to get you to stay positive.
Published on January 28, 2020 by Red Feather
My Review:
Some of the keys to dealing with tough times is having awareness, initiative, positive attitude and kindness. This is where the Thank Forward Gratitude Action Kit comes in handy.
It consists of a small box that contains 21 colorful action cards and a 64-page booklet explaining how to use each card. It also includes ideas on how creative you can get with your acts of kindness.
Each card will encourage you to do an act of kindness to any degree you wish, putting your own twist on it if you like. Then you pass on the card to someone else, thus creating a chain of action that could end up paying forward more than you will ever know. You are then encouraged to share your experience at www.ThankForward.com. You can work through the cards at your leisure and in any order you like.
I started with card #3 titled Make It Happen. It encourages you to volunteer, donate or start a drive. I decided to support a non-profit organization that reflects my values while at the same time feeding my love of reading. I donated to Shelterbox (emergency disaster relief) and I joined ShelterBox Book Club International to support authors who've written books that reveal and reflect the lives and realities of the countries Shelterbox had the privilege of deploying to.
I like the idea of this gratitude kit because it removes the focus on the negative all around us and instead empowers us to be proactive. I'm going to work my way through the deck and then pass the cards forward to someone or leave it in a café, once we can start frequenting them again! This gratitude kit would make a great gift for the person in your life who needs a boost or that busybee who loves doing creative things.
Now it's your turn to share. What books have helped you cope with tough times?
Thank Forward sounds brilliant. I’ll have to look into doing that.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
The Thank Forward cards sound wonderful and very helpful right now.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good way to be proactive in a creative way.
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