Paperback: 308 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.69 x 7.92 x 5.30 Publisher: Plume; ISBN: 0452272432; Reprint edition (1994)

Using competitive sports (particularly tennis) as a model, "Toughness Training for Life" defines toughness as 4 principles: flexibility, responsiveness, strength and resiliency which apply to everyday life and to a person's physical, mental, emotional and overall well-being. The overall effect one is looking for is creating balanced waves of expending and recovering energy and the avoidance of under- and over-training. 

There are some real world examples of out-of-balance lives (for example, over training physically, under training emotionally) and specific steps to correct the problems.

There are 2 other principles that I found particularly useful: 1) If you're having fun, you most likely are in-balance and operating at IPS; conversely, if the fun stops-pay attention and 2) Pain is merely a signal of an unmet need - interpret it correctly and respond appropriately and the pain goes away.

If you've ever heard the clichéd wisdom about drinking plenty of water, getting enough rest, finding the silver lining in every cloud, etc. but wondered why or how it helps, "Toughness Training For Life" explains it thoroughly. Using a modified version of Maslow's pyramid, all aspects of toughness are covered, including specific sections on the physical, mental and emotional components plus special sections on the education system and on toughness for women.

Highly recommended! Also try; "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (another paradigm of happiness); "Egoscue Method" (more on physical alignment); "The Bodies Many Cries for Water" (a very overlooked recovery strategy) and "Mastery" by George Leonard.
sirch

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