How to Stay Hopeful in Hard Times: 8 Books That Help

"1. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday 'The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.' 'You will come across obstacles in life—fair and unfair. And you will discover, time and again, that what matters most is not what these obstacles are but how you see them.' 'Just because your mind tells you that something is awful or evil or unplanned doesn’t mean you have to agree.' 'Persistence is an action. Perseverance is a matter of will.' 'Focus on the moment, not the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.' 2. When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön 'Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found.' 'The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.' 'Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.' 'Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.' 'To stay with that shakiness—to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness—that is the path of true awakening.'"

"3. Rising Strong by Brené Brown 'The middle is messy, but it’s also where the magic happens.' 'We are wired for story.' 'Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.' 'Integrity is choosing courage over comfort.' 'Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.'"

"4. The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama & Howard Cutler 'Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.' 'Compassion is not religious business, it is human business.' 'The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be.' 'Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.' 'If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.'"

"5. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed 'The healing is in the telling.' 'You don’t have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt. You have an obligation to play the hell out of the ones you’re holding.' 'Most things will be okay eventually, but not everything will be.' 'Acceptance has everything to do with simplicity, with humility, with saying, ‘This is who I am.’' 'You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness.' 6. It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine 'Some things cannot be fixed. They can only be carried.' 'Grief is simply love in its most wild and painful form.' 'You do not need to move on. You only need to move forward.' 'Being broken is not a failure.' 'Hope isn’t about a brighter tomorrow—it’s about surviving today.'"

"7. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown 'Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.' 'We’re all afraid. But we can’t let fear stop us from showing up.' 'Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.' 'Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.' 'Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity.' 8. Option B by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant 'Resilience is not a fixed personality trait. It’s a lifelong project.' 'We plant the seeds of resilience in the ways we process negative events.' 'You are not born with a fixed amount of resilience.' 'Post-traumatic growth means finding strength and meaning in the face of adversity.' 'Happiness is not the belief that we don’t need to change; it’s the realization that we can.'"