A Resilience Toolkit
A practical and inspiring guide designed to help individuals and families build emotional strength during difficult times. Drawing from positive psychology, mindfulness, and real-life stories, the toolkit offers exercises and strategies to cultivate resilience, find meaning, and stay connected. It includes practices like storytelling, beauty checks, mindfulness meditations, and cognitive techniques for managing stress and maintaining well-being.
Dr. Tom's personally curated list of resources, including books, videos and practices.
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: In the time it takes to drink a Sunday morning cup of coffee, read Dr. Tom Wagner’s weekly articles on resilience, which include fascinating interviews with subjects who have shown remarkable grit against all odds. This is a great resource for a work team looking for a series on resilience practices complete with video and discussion questions and exercises.
Author: Me! Dr. Tom Wagner
Learn more about Project SMC here.
Subject: Happiness research
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: Has many resilience crossover applications.
Author: Achor, Shawn. 2010. New York: Random House.
Subject: Five hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: Relatable. Practical. Great action items.
Author: Achor, Shawn. 2013. New York: Random House.
Life Reimagined: The Science and Art of Midlife
Subject: Resilience in midlife and beyond
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: A great read. Well-researched.
Author: Bradley Hagerty, Barbara. 2016. New York: Riverhead Books.
Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back
Subject: Resilience writing from a philosophical and systemic perspective
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: Several chapters are practical.
Author: Zolli, A. & Healy, A.M. 2012. New York: Free Press.
Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges
Subject: Resilience review of the literature
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: Helpful tips and good stories. Several chapters are practical.
Author: Southwick, S.M. & Charney, D.S. 2016. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Subject: Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini’s story of survival against all odds
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: The movie can’t begin to approach the beauty of this writing. Also…a page turner from page one.
Author: Hillenbrand, Laura. 2010. New York: Penguin Random House.
Subject: 63-year-old swimmer breaks open-ocean distance swimming record after five tries
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Author: Nyad, Diana. 2015. New York: Knopf.
Subject: A guide to the Christian practice of contemplation
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: The first two chapters offer as good a take on Christian mindfulness spirituality as you’ll find. Skip the rest, and read Cynthia Bourgeault for tools and techniques.
Author: Laird, Martin. 2006. New York: Oxford University Press.
Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
Subject: A guidebook for the practice of Centering Prayer
Dr. Tom's Thoughts: A great spiritual technique book.
Author: Bourgeault, Cynthia. 2004. New York: Cowley Publications.
Subject: Life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy
Dr. Tom's Thoughts:
If you want a Tibetan Buddhist master’s take on mindfulness practice, this is a classic.
Author: Chödrön, Pema. 2016. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications.