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, a freak accident, a shocking crime, a disabled child, the loss of a job; bankruptcy, betrayal, fire, flood, divorce or disaster. Sometimes it’s a little gentler: envy, loneliness, resentment, failure, disappointment or rejection. But whatever form it takes, one thing’s for sure: it hurts! And most of us don’t deal with the pain very well.

This book is based on a scientifically proven mindfulness-based approach called ‘Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’ (ACT). Within these pages, you will learn how to cope effectively when life hurts: not just how to survive, but how to thrive. Using the proven principles of ACT, you’ll discover how to:
•find peace in the midst of your pain
•find calm in the midst of your chaos
•anchor yourself in the midst of emotional storms
•increase your sense of connection with yourself and others
•use your painful emotions to cultivate wisdom and compassion
•find fulfilment even when you can’t get what you want
•heal your wounds, and come through stronger than before.

Dr Russ Harris is a medical practitioner, psychotherapist, and bestselling author of ‘The Happiness Trap’, which has now been translated into 22 languages. He is one of the world’s leading authorities in ACT, and regularly travels all over Australia and internationally to train a wide variety of professionals in the approach. His other books include ‘The Confidence Gap’, ‘ACT With Love’, ‘ACT Made Simple’, and the fictional novel ‘Stand Up Strummer’.

PRAISE FOR 'THE REALITY SLAP'
‘Deeply moving and easy to understand, The Reality Slap is a book that takes us to the heart of being human, to really help us change from the inside. As one of the world’s pioneers of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Russ Harris has given us a truly compassionate gift on how to (en)lighten our journey through life’s storms and calms. I had so many insightful moments that reading this book was a delight, an uplifting shoulder, and an education.’ — Professor Paul Gilbert, PhD, author of ‘The Compassionate Mind’

‘Sooner or later, reality is going to slap you. Loss, disease, betrayal or other misfortunes will arrive unexpectedly and shake your very foundations. At that moment, this wise book is one to keep within reach. It will do more than soothe — it will ground you, guide you and help you grow. Taking the time to treat yourself with kindness and awareness doesn’t remove the pain, but it dignifies it and turns it into a profound teacher. This book will help you learn the lessons that pain contains. You will want this book not just for you but also for those you love — knowing that sooner or later, reality is going to slap them too.’ — Steven C. Hayes, Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, and author of ‘Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life’

‘No matter what we attempt to do, pain and suffering are inevitably going to creep into our lives, and the capacity to handle this pain is essential for fulfilment. So if you want a short-term boost of happiness with simple, banal ideas that your kindergarten teacher could have told you, go elsewhere. But if you want to create a stable platform of mindfulness, meaning and purpose in your life, and develop the ability to handle pain effectively, then this is the book to read. It is my great hope that people will find this book and flexibly adopt the ideas within.’ — Dr Todd B. Kashdan, author of ‘Curious?’ and ‘Designing Positive Psychology’