As Burrhus Frederic Skinner, one of the most influential psychologists in human history, lay on his deathbed, his mouth grew dry. When a carer gave him some water, he sipped it gratefully, then uttered his final word: “Marvelous.”

The “reality slap” takes many different forms. Sometimes it is so violent it’s more like a punch: the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a major injury, or a disabled child. Sometimes it’s a little gentler: envy, loneliness, resentment, or rejection. But whatever form it takes, one thing’s for sure: it hurts! Within these pages, you will learn how to cope effectively when life hurts: not just how to survive, but how to thrive.

“Reading this book was a delight, an uplifting shoulder, and an education.”
       — Professor Paul Gilbert, Ph.D., author of The Compassionate Mind