April Recommended Reading: How We Grow Through What We Go Through

I recently finished this tiny but impactful book, and just knew How We Grow Through What We Go Through: Self-Compassion Practices for Post-Traumatic Growth by Christopher Willard, PsyD, had to be April’s Recommended Reading.

I think the idea of Post-Traumatic Growth is fascinating. We hear so much about PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) that I think sometimes we automatically assume that if we’ve gone through something difficult, we must have PTSD as a result. And while PTSD is a real and debilitating condition that people struggle with, it turns out that most people experience Post-Traumatic Growth as a result of their challenging life experiences.

Neuroplasticity is our brain’s ability to re-wire itself, and this ability to adapt, change, and grow continues throughout our lifespan. So here’s the good news! We can learn skills (and it’s never too late!) to help us become more resilient and more likely to experience Post-Traumatic Growth.

Two of the best ways we expand our resilience are through meditation and self-compassion, which at first glance, may seem too simple to make much of a difference, but this book shows you how to do that.

Dr. Willard gives practical ways to cultivate Post-Traumatic Growth with exercises and actionable steps to take. I love audiobooks, but I recommend this book in its physical form so that you can easily find the exercises and return to them again.

I try not to recommend books with strong language because I know I have some sensitive readers. This book has 3 or 4 uses of strong language, and while unnecessary for the tone of the book, it does not overpower the overall message.

At 150 pages, this small but mighty book is an excellent resource for working to become more resilient in your life. Highly recommended.