Stress Wisely

Psychology and education instructor Hanley-Dafoe presents a multipart approach to achieving wellness in the modern world. As Hanley-Dafoe points out at the beginning of her new book, the pace of life is only getting faster, and the demands of life continuously increase--and at a far more rapid rate than human beings can tolerate. The self-help industry, she says, is based on the notion that "We are failing at our own lives." "The divides around ideas, beliefs, values, and actions have become expansive," she notes. "We are weary, wobbly, and discouraged." In this book, she grounds her advice with frank openness about her personal struggles, including mental health issues, learning disabilities, and grief, and she breaks down her insights under several broad headings and focuses on fostering a sense of wellness in one's body, heart, and mind as well as in the wider world. Throughout, she urges readers to be compassionate to themselves and cognizant of their own limitations when it comes to curbing bad habits and creating new ones. "Self-management is challenging for so many of us because we often rely on willpower and motivation to manage our behaviours," she writes, warning that "these two energies are fickle friends." Hanley-Dafoe's decision to base so much of her approach on her experience is a wise one, as it allows her to very effectively alternate between empathy and moments of tough love: "Our physical pursuits of health are often attempts to heal emotional parts of our lives," she writes when discussing physical self-care. "Our bodies are our protectors, not the enemy." But she's equally quick to warn her readers that "we cannot hustle our way out of discomfort," and one can't outthink their way out of every difficulty. This combination of clarity and compassion will make her suggestions invaluable to overstressed readers. A warm and wise overview of how to navigate the pressures of an anxious era.

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