The Tree That Bends: How a Flexible Mind Can Help You Thrive

’A smart, engaging and, best of all, incredibly practical guide to winning in life without losing yourself along the way’ Damian Hughes, co-host of the High Performance Podcast

Modern life urges us to push relentlessly for what looks like success and to be resolute in avoiding anything less. But at what cost? Burnout and disillusionment are on the rise.

What if there is another way? One that allows us to both do well and feel well; an approach that transforms our striving into thriving?

For clinical psychologist Ross White, a Tanzanian proverb - ’The wind does not break the tree that bends’ signals the solution. During more than fifteen years as an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), he has supported countless high-performance clients to develop their psychological flexibility - to anchor themselves in the present, lean into their emotions and make choices in line with their personal values.

If you juggle competing demands, take pride in what you do, and want to achieve your personal goals without sacrificing yourself, then ’high-performance’ applies to you too. With perspective-shifting insights and practical strategies, The Tree that Bends will help you to develop a flexible mind so that you can thrive, whatever storms life may throw at you.

’At last, a truly practical, realistic, doable guide to building a better life, and taking good care of yourself, while also performing at your peak . . .Highly recommended for anyone who wants to move from striving to thriving in any area of their life.’ Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap and ACT Made Simple

Professor Ross White is an award-winning clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of adults working in high-performance
environments, Including elite-level athletes in rugby, football, athletics and tennis. He is also an expert in global mental health and has conducted research in collaborations with the World Health Organization and the United Nations High C ommission for Refugees on interventions for reducing distress experienced by refugees in the aftermath of humanitarian crises. He is currently Professor of C linical Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, and is a director of Strive2Thrive, a training and consultancy.