Overcoming Adversity: Conquering Life's Challenges

No one searches for adversity. Bad things happen. Yet how many of us will know what to do to prevent our lives from spiralling out of control when we encounter traumatic events that threaten our safety, careers, emotions, health, or relationships?

In this pragmatic and inspirational book, experienced US-based life coach and former psychotherapist Eileen Lenson shows us tools to turn suffering into hope and develop resilience by combining scientific research with an understanding of our emotional and spiritual lives. She cuts through existing myths and provides readers with a look into what it takes to not just overcome adversity and survive, but to thrive.

Written to help anyone who finds themselves in a painful place, regardless of social background, culture, religion or education, each chapter describes from a scientific, psychological and spiritual perspective, why we do the things we do. Armed with this knowledge we can learn to manage our feelings and respond to devastating events with the skills to seek healthy coping options and change our lives for the better.

In this book you'll learn how to:

• Use five core factors of your life — forgiveness, courage, perspective, perseverance, and hope — to reduce emotional suffering.
• Identify and replace unproductive coping skills with healthy thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
• Master new skills through practice exercises.
• Benefit from the stories of others, just like you, who have faced and overcome adversity.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Vice Admiral David H. Buss, United States Navy, Retired

An Introduction To Overcoming Adversity

• The Five Personal Components To Overcoming Adversity
• The Three Spheres Of Support In Overcoming Adversity

Chapter 1: Forgiveness

• What Is Forgiveness?
• Why Is Forgiveness So Important?
• What Forgiveness Is Not
• Barriers To Forgiveness
• How To Use the Three Spheres of Support To Achieve Forgiveness
• Conclusion
• Suggested Exercises for Using the Three Spheres of Support To Enhance Your Forgiveness

Chapter 2: Courage

• What Is Courage?
• Why Is Courage So Important?
• What Courage Is Not
• Barriers To Courage
• How To Use The Three Spheres Of Support To Achieve Courage
• Conclusion
• Suggested Exercises for Using the Three Spheres of Support To Enhance Your Courage

Chapter 3: Perspective

• What Is Perspective?
• Why Is Perspective So Important?
• What Perspective Is Not
• Barriers To Perspective
• How To Use The Three Spheres Of Support To Achieve Perspective
• Conclusion
• Suggested Exercises For Using The Three Spheres Of Support To Enhance Your Perspective-Taking Abilities

Chapter 4: Perseverance

• What Is Perseverance?
• Why Is Perseverance So Important?
• What Perseverance Is Not
• Barriers To Perseverance
• How To Use The Three Spheres Of Support To Achieve Perseverance
• Conclusion
• Suggested Exercises For Using The Three Spheres Of Support To Enhance Your Perseverance

Chapter 5: Hope

• What Is Hope?
• Why Is Hope So Important?
• What Hope Is Not
• Barriers To Hope
• How To Use The Three Spheres Of Support To Achieve Hope
• Conclusion
• Suggested Exercises Using the Three Spheres of Support To Enhance Your Hopefulness

Afterword

Endnotes

"Surviving was only part of my journey. The toughest part was continuing on. This insightful book will give you the tools to thrive in life to the fullest no matter what adversities you encounter."
- George Lamson, sole survivor of Galaxy Airlines Flight #203 in Reno, Nevada Featured in CNN 2014 documentary ‘Sole Survivor.’

"I know Eileen Lenson to be a committed and compassionate individual who has put much research and applied practice into this study. This book will assist its readers by offering practical means to apply in order to overcome hurt and adversity in their lives."
- Jeffrey D. Armstrong, President, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo CA

"Adversity Is good. Overcoming it is even better. Trees grow stronger in high winds and people grow stronger with adversity and resistance. If I hadn’t gone bankrupt forty plus years ago, I would not have discovered that my problems were my transportation to my destiny i.e. becoming world’s bestselling non-fiction author and a high paid professional speaker. We all go through adversity and this book will inspire you to overcome it with excellence, elegance, and a decision to win bigger than ever."
- Mark Victor Hansen, Co-Creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Co-Chairman/Founder of Metamorphosis Energy LLC.

"Eileen Lenson has created an essential crutch read. A lifetime psychotherapist and life and business coach, she provides a detailed and elevating map to follow when we are slammed by unexpected and enervating adversity. And we shall be slammed. Long lives assure it and we are longer lived. Lenson identifies the reset button, and creates a practical guide to hold us up and to let us move forward. Hers is a lifetime read."
- Frank Keating, Former Governor of Oklahoma who oversaw the tragedies of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the 72 devastating tornadoes of 1999.