Hugh Van Kahlenberg was a primary school teacher, volunteering in North India, when he had a life changing realisation: despite the under privileged community the children were from, they were remarkably positive. By contrast, back in Australia, he knew that all too many people found it hard to be happy, or suffered from mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. His own little sister had been ravaged by anorexia nervosa.
How was it that young people he knew at home, who had food, shelter, friends, and a loving family, struggled with their mental health, while these kids seem to be contented and resilient? He set about finding the answer and in time came to recognise the key traits and behaviours these children possessed were gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness.
In the ensuing years Hugh threw himself into studying and sharing this revelation with the world through The Resilience Project, with his playful and unorthodox presentations, which both entertain and inform. Now, with the same blend of humour, poignancy and clear-eyed insight that The Resilience Project has become renowned for, Hugh explains how we can all get the tools we need to live a happier and more fulfilling life.
