Type R and Kids These Days

Here are a couple of new titles which should be especially interesting to our Psychology students:

TYPE R by Ama Marston and Stephanie Marston deals with “Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World.” The authors, a mother and daughter, note that this term is different from the traditional sense of the word and define Transformative Resilience as “the ability to learn, grow, and spring forward.” They provide examples from their own lives and from their work consulting about stress and leadership. The Marstons argue that there are six stages (seeking comfort, experiencing disruption and chaos, etc.) to this transformation as well as some essential skills (adaptability, control, purposefulness, active engagement, willingness to seek support, and openness to new information.). Suggested actions for individuals and leaders are offered. And since we all seem to face increasing uncertainty and stressors, these stories of turning adversity into growth are certainly very inspiring. They seem to blend well with the growth mindset work we have done, especially at the Northfield campus, in recent years.  If this topic interests you, look also at works dealing with resilience by Kenneth Ginsburg, Carol Dweck, or Brene Brown.

You may need some measure of resilience to read KIDS THESE DAYS by Malcolm Harris because, while this is a well-written and accessible work, Harris focuses pessimistically on how the generation of millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) has been exploited as human capital.  He says, “When you look at some major trends in the lives of American young people, there’s good evidence that the quantitative changes over the past three or four decades now constitute a meaningful qualitative rupture, one with repercussions we’ve yet to fully appreciate.” He argues that all of the homework and focus on college is a reaction to the need to keep the economy growing, yet he says wages have not grown and debt has increased for this cohort.  Harris spends a portion of the book looking at this debate about whether labor saving technology has really benefited workers or owners.  In addition, he explores the constant connection and impact of social media, increased expectations for athletes and less opportunity for professional performing artists and musicians.  KIDS THESE DAYS is packed with analysis and footnotes, providing an extremely thought-provoking look (with which readers will not always agree) from a millennial about the struggles he believes that his generation faces.

New Books for New Year Resolutions ...

Have you been thinking about New Year's resolutions?  Here are some books that might help: 

THE MINDFUL WAY TO A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP by Tzivia Gover, Director of the Institute for Dream Studies, offers some workable and useful information in order to sleep more deeply. Gover writes, “This isn’t simply a book to read. This is a book to do.”  From there, she advocates trying just some of the exercises and writing prompts – keeping what works and moving on from the rest.  In various sections, such as one titled “create your sleep sanctuary,” she offers suggestions about getting comfortable, using soothing scents and light reading to promote restful sleep. In addition, there are several methods for incorporating mindfulness (being grateful as you make your bed each day or washing away worries and regrets when brushing your teeth or following some of the breathing exercises). We have been doing some mindfulness exercises at school and I can see possibly incorporating some of these (like the quietest sound, p. 53).  If you are looking for sleep help, you may already be aware of several of her ideas and a significant portion of the book is devoted to dreams, with suggestions for keeping a dream journal and for understanding dream language.  The final section is about waking up well; throughout her book, Gover includes quotes like Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.”  

MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS by Dan Harris is a follow-up to his 10% Happier (2014) which has been recommended to me after a presentation on “Less Stress” resources at the AASL national conference this year. There is a bit of a snarky tone (I drew it; deal with it … ew), but that also seems to be an attempt to add some humor and better connect with the reader. I do like that there is a feeling of acceptance: “I began my meditation practice slowly, with just five to ten minutes a day…. (and frankly, if you can only find time for one minute a day, you can count that as a win.)”

In addition, he stresses the importance of giving yourself permission to fail, including knowing that you need to re-focus your mind again and again (and again). Throughout this text, there are the stories from a road trip where he and co-writers travelled around the US, exploring the benefits of (and challenges to) meditation with others like radio show hosts and former prison inmates. I am curious to read more of Harris’ comments about how meditation has helped relieve his anxiety and decreased the inclination to act impulsively. Harris was recently interviewed on NPR and Publishers Weekly called this a “clever guide.” There are several meditations included in MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS, plus a section with resources to help keep meditating.

And New Harbinger Publications produces numerous books related to this topic; I especially liked The Grit Guide for Teens.  Another recent title is MINDFULNESS FOR TEEN WORRY. Written by Jeffrey Bernstein, it is filled with “quick and easy strategies to let go of anxiety, worry, and stress.”  Bernstein talks directly to teens, often quoting those he has interviewed and offering visual cues like a section where he suggests using your hand to visualize how your brain works.  He talks further about how worry often gets in the way, wastes energy and even makes people ill. He acknowledges that teens already know how to be mindful (listening to music, walking outside) and encourages them to practice “the power of the present moment” with intention, attention and attitude. There are entire chapters titled “the beginner’s mindfulness toolkit” as well as “getting back in control by letting go.”  Throughout, there are numerous “try it!” sections with suggested activities; some of them (like the body scan), we have already used in advisory. MINDFULNESS FOR TEEN WORRY is another helpful look at an important topic.