Linda Graham is a clinical therapist trained in a variety of approaches, a mindfulness teacher, and an expert on the neuroscience of human relationships. She trains other clinicians in applying neuroscience to their work. Her website is www.LindaGraham-MTF.net
It takes resilience to bounce back from the many setbacks, disappointments, and tragedies of these hard times. Many are permanently felled by the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or the general wear and tear of everyday life's failures and mishaps. We must learn to master all that comes our way and reframe obstacles into stepping stones. Or as Louisa May Alcott put it: "I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."
Linda Graham defines resilience as "the capacity to respond to pressures and tragedies quickly, adaptively, and effectively." She presents the 5 Cs of coping: calm, clarity, connection, competence, and courage. She moves on to explore how the brain deals with our patterns of response through repeated experience, the role of neuroplasticity (flexibility) in recovering our resilience, and the work done in the prefrontal cortex of the brain (the CEO of resilience).
In a series of enlightening chapters, Graham explains more factors that are supportive of resilience: mindfulness, empathy, intention, perseverance, bonding and belonging, equilibrium, inner security and self-confidence, altruism, and positive emotions. She suggests spiritual exercises and inner work that will help us foster the ability to bounce back. Of many thoughtful quotes sprinkled through the text, we especially loved the lyrics from "My Favorite Things" from the movie The Sound of Music.
