Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life by June Rousso, Ph.D.
Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life: A Guide for Teens is an interactive book meant to engage readers in learning how to face adversities in life and to find meaning in these experiences. It gives the message that we have a treasure chest of inner resources that can be called upon in the face of adversity. These resources must be discovered and, in some instances, developed to build resilience and find what holds personal meaning. Along with discovering meaning in adversity readers are encouraged to look for meaningful moments in their lives rather than engaging in activities that often lead them to feel empty inside.
The guide also can be read by counselors and educators to help teens cope and live a more meaningful life. The guide was inspired by the teachings of Dr. Viktor Frankl, noted author of Man’s Search for Meaning, and by the research findings on character strengths presented by the VIA Institute on Character.
5 Stars
Author Dr. June Rousso’s thought-provoking book, Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life is an interactive guide for teenagers looking to find meaning in their life experiences. This self-help book is intended to be gone through like a workbook. You read a section and sometimes there are exercises included for the reader to do to grasp the concept better. Not all sections have exercises but it is still meant to be an area for reflection. The overall concept is based on the teaching of Dr. Viktor Frankl and the Values In Action (VIA) Institute on Character, this book aims to equip teenagers with practical tips that they can apply to their lives.
Dr. June Rousso goes into the teaching of Dr. Frankl, particularly around how to find meaning and happiness even in the face of adversity. One of the key points in Dr. Fankl’s philosophy is that there are three things we all go through in life – guilt, suffering, and death. More importantly, it teaches teenagers how to cope with them, even as they struggle with the ups and downs that come with puberty. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of accepting your feelings, even the negative ones like envy.
The section that I like most, is the part that talks about virtues. The author explains how you can help yourself in the pursuit of finding meaning in your life and understanding how to identify happiness. Each section includes questions about the topic for reflection. I also liked that the author included quotes from a variety of sources that are scattered through the pages. At the end are worksheets with different scenarios that allow for reflection and putting the skills talked about to use.
Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life is written in a simple and direct style that is non-judgemental. This setup is ideal for teenagers looking for a self-help book, or something to help make sense of things at this point in their life.
Life changing!
This book is an ideal resource for teens, counselors and everyone else during this difficult time that we are all experiencing. It provides concise and easy to follow explanations and instructions on how to face adversity and find meaning in life including specific exercises. It helps the reader to identify their many strengths which is very encouraging. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who would like to live a more meaningful life or help others to do the same.
— A. Postyn
A Comforting, Yet Powerful Read
I just finished reading this book and I truly thought it was eye-opening and beautiful. I often feel like I become so overwhelmed with the negativity and suffering in my life that I forget to search for the deeper meaning of it all. Luckily, this book reminded me of the importance of this, especially through the exercises that were included in each chapter. I feel that they really helped me reflect on past experiences that may have been painful in the moment, but have actually taught me so many vital lessons about myself and my relationships with other people. I definitely think I am able to view them in a new light now. I’m not usually someone who annotates while reading, but there were so many lines that stuck out to me that I ended up highlighting something every few pages! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and it was so consoling to feel understood in the challenges I face as an adolescent while also learning about the tools I can use to overcome adversity.
— A. Simone
Author Dr. June Rousso’s thought-provoking book, Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life is an interactive guide for teenagers looking to find meaning in their life experiences. This self-help book is intended to be gone through like a workbook. You read a section and sometimes there are exercises included for the reader to do to grasp the concept better. Not all sections have exercises but it is still meant to be an area for reflection. The overall concept is based on the teaching of Dr. Viktor Frankl and the Values in Action (VIA) Institute on Character, this book aims to equip teenagers with practical tips that they can apply to their lives.
Dr. June Rousso goes into the teaching of Dr. Frankl, particularly around how to find meaning and happiness even in the face of adversity. One of the key points in Dr. Fankl’s philosophy is that there are three things we all go through in life – guilt, suffering, and death. More importantly, it teaches teenagers how to cope with them, even as they struggle with the ups and downs that come with puberty. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of accepting your feelings, even the negative ones like envy.
The section that I like most is the part that talks about virtues. The author explains how you can help yourself in the pursuit of finding meaning in your life and understanding how to identify happiness. Each section includes questions about the topic for reflection. I also liked that the author included quotes from a variety of sources that are scattered through the pages. At the end are worksheets with different scenarios that allow for reflection and putting the skills talked about to use.
— The Reading Bud
This was an incredibly well-written and captivating read. It is rare that I am able to get the opportunity to read YA-driven nonfiction books, and the author did a fabulous job of writing in a way that the book’s intended audience would have no trouble understanding the research and development that the author speaks of, while also providing emotional narrative elements to keep the reader invested in what that research delves into.
The thing that stood out to me immediately was the author’s study of the works of Dr. Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi Concentration Camps, who helped to develop logotherapy and the three tenants that it is comprised of. The passion and zeal for life both the author and Dr. Frankl share were amazing to see come to life on the pages of this book, and the lessons that come from this line of the study were great to see. From the examination of freedom of choice growing up and the fine line between following a parent’s rules and accepting total compliance throughout one’s life, to how the perceptions we hold about ourselves and others reside within our spirits, this book does an excellent job of showcasing both the detailed study of Dr. Frankl’s work and the author’s ability to reach a younger audience in an impactful and meaningful way.
Captivating, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Dr. June Rousso’s “Building Resilience and Finding Meaning” is a must-read book for 2022! The fast pace of the book and the thoughtful approach to life’s challenges and the lessons teens can learn from these hardships, as well as the history and study of Dr. Frankl’s work, made this such a memorable read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
— Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
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I Don’t Want to Bully Anymore by June Rousso, Ph.D.
Dr. June Rousso’s new book explores ways to build character and self-confidence in bullies the bullied as an anti-bullying strategy.
(New York, N.Y. Fall 2019) Written for both bullies and their victims, I Don’t Want to Bully Anymore- A Young Person’s Guide for the Bully and the Bullied- includes an engaging poetic style and beautiful illustrations. It helps bullies to build self-confidence using the character strengths of kindness, self-regulation, social intelligence, perspective along with others.
Twenty-four character strengths are presented based upon the VIA Institute on Character classification. Thought-provoking questions for each of the character strengths are meant to foster discussions at home and in the classroom. Bullies learn that they have good qualities and victims become empowered not to become an easy target for the bully. Adults and children seeking anti-bullying strategies will learn how to put things in perspective by accentuating the positive.
Where to find the book? www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
More about the book? www.idontwanttobullyanymore.com
More about June? www.junerousso.com
AUTHOR BIO:
Dr. June Rousso is a licensed psychologist practicing as a psychotherapist and life coach in New York City. Her other books written for a child and adolescent audience stress the importance of recognizing character strengths in ourselves and spotting them in others They are: We All Live on This Planet Together (2017) focusing on looking for the positive in life rather than dwelling on the negative. The Little Book of Character Strengths (2018) introduces young readers to the concept of character strengths and how to apply them in their lives based upon the VIA Institute on Character classification.
Dr. Rousso is available for speaking engagements on request.
The Little Book of Character Strengths by June Rousso, Ph.D.
The Little Book of Character Strengths defines the meaning of twenty-four different character strengths based on the VIA classification and helps children become aware of some of the ways that they can develop their strengths. The book is filled with whimsical illustrations that capture the essence of each of the character strengths. While written primary for children. adults can benefit from the message of the book as well.
We All Live in this World Together by June Rousso, Ph.D.
We All Live In This World Together teaches children to focus their attention on inner strengths and the beauty in our world to manage fear while accepting their negative feelings. It shows how letting our fears build can be overwhelming, distort self-image and how we view the world.