Vivian Chiona reviews: The Emotionally Resilient Expat
I read a lot of books this summer, one of which was Linda A. Janssen’s The Emotionally Resilient Expat: Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures (2013). I wanted to share this book with you and encourage you to keep reading, if you’re a book-lover like me, even when you’re in the throes of the hectic lifestyle that the autumn tends to bring.
In The Emotionally Resilient Expat: Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures, Janssen has done a great job of shedding light on the dynamics of the expatriate, cross-cultural life. (As an expat, Janssen’s discussion of how “the sense of home shifts” really resonated with me.)
This is also a comprehensive guide on how to develop emotional resilience as an expat. Emotional resilience is defined by Janssen as ‘the psychological ability to adapt to the significant challenges, misfortunes and setbacks life throws our way, while maintaining or returning to a positive view of oneself during or after such turmoil’. This is a topic close to my heart and one that is not widely acknowledged or discussed among expats. Yet emotional resilience is key to understanding and overcoming many an expat challenge.
Janssen also lists excellent resources – expat-related blogs, articles, websites – throughout the book to further support the expat. Part III in particular is a great toolbox of techniques to developing emotional resilience (visualization, stress management, relaxation techniques, healthy sharing…). I also enjoyed the contributions from expats around the world; they inspire a real sense of empathy and recognition. Though some parts of the book, such as the very technical chapter on brain-body connections, could have been more succinct, I highly recommend this book.
The Emotionally Resilient Expat: Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures is a great resource for every expat, and it addresses expat challenges and provides expat-focused solutions. This truly is a book that teaches expats the skills required to engage, adapt and thrive among cultures.
Have you read The Emotionally Resilient Expat: Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures? Or any other books that have helped or inspired you in your expat experience? We’d love to know more!
Did you like this article? If so, share it with at least one person…And do subscribe to my TOP EXPAT TIPS!
FEEL FREE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR BLOG OR NEWSLETTER. We ask only that you attribute Expat Nest and include the following: Expat Nest (www.expatnest.com) is a professional online counselling service for expats.
Photo: Ekrulila / Pexels
What a wonderful way to start my day, Vivian – a tweet from my publisher (Jo Parfitt, expatriate press Summertime Publishing) telling me your review of TERE was up. Thank you so much! Such a thoughtful review, I’m humbled and so grateful for your kind words. I’ll be sharing it around social media sites, including The Emotionally Resilient Expat page on Facebook. If you get a chance, please give it a ‘Like’ and share your insights. Again, thanks for reading, reviewing and most of all, sharing about the importance of emotional resilience in expat life 🙂
Thank you so much Linda! Thank you for creating this book which is a great resource for expats!
Looking forward to reading your second book 🙂
Kind regards
Vivian
Very interesting topic and so demanding sometimes.
Another reference I used in some of my workshops on emotional resilience is the identification process of our emotions as presented by André Guittet in his book “Développer ses compétences relationnelles” Ed by Dunod ( isbn 2 10 049645 X).
He presents an identification process that starts with SIGNALS that are captured by our senses, then he goes to our EMOTIONS that translate or express physiological and behavioral stimuli. The third step is about FEELINGS and the need to consciously verbalize them. Step four and five are consecutively MOOD which can last sometimes for days but are whatsoever temporary states we go through and TEMPERAMENT which he refers to as fairly permanent ways of being and behaving and that are characterizing people (calm, aggressive, optimistic,…)
Developing emotional resilience is a way to re-connect wit our inner most self and help us becoming simultaneously as conscious as strong/balanced.
Thanks Vivian for sharing Linda A Janssen’s reference.
Hi Olivier,
Thank you so much for your comments and sharing the reference of “Développer ses compétences relationnelles”
Will add it to my reading list.
Kind regards,
Vivian
Εxcellent blog you have got here.. It’s dіfficult to find excellent
writing like yours these daʏs. I honestly appreciate people like you!
Take care!!
Thank you so much Pemmi! Highly appreciate your feedback
Vivian