Okay, Now What?: How to Be Resilient When Life Gets Tough

by Kate Gladdin

From life coach Kate Gladdin, this easy-to-follow, 3-step plan for how to bravely face life’s unexpected challenges is the foolproof solution to developing resilience. When motivational speaker Kate Gladdin was 20 years old, she woke up in the middle of the night to find out her older sister had died in a tragic road accident. Suddenly, everything she knew about her life, her future, and her family shattered in a heartbeat.Just like Gladdin, we all face loss in different ways every day, because adversity is a part of life. There’s no getting around it–only through it–and the most vital tool we need to overcome the unexpected is resilience.It was this realization that led Gladdin to become a resilience expert, life coach, and motivational speaker. Through her own proven three step strategy using the 3 Rs–to recognize, reflect, and redirect–she now has the skills to use anytime she feels helpless and wants to take back control over any circumstance she faces.It’s this incredible method that Gladdin teaches in Okay. Now What? She shows readers how to recognize the thoughts that cause how they feel, reflect upon whether those thoughts are helpful or harmful, and, finally–the most important step–redirect their mind to find empowering thoughts that fuel the resilience they need to rise above and create good from even the worst moments in life.Resilience isn’t a fixed trait that you are born with, like your eye color or the shape of your toes. Resilience is a skill that any of us can grow and develop with practice, and in Okay. Now What?, you will learn exactly how to do so.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

240 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very out of touch. I propose this alternate title: "Gratitude and The Great Barrier Reef: The Wealthy White Woman's Guide to Life's First Boo-Boo".

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, Now What?: How to Be Resilient When Life Gets Tough is a self-help book written by Kate Gladdin after her best friend and sister was killed in a motorbike accident while vacationing. Kate Gladdin walked away from her career and has been a motivational speaker and has been assisting people through their tragedies and struggles.

My favorite thing about reading Okay, Now What? was that by coincidence, I alternated reading Okay, Now What? with listening to audiobook All The Glimmering Stars by Mark Sullivan ... about two teenagers who were abducted in Africa and forced to be child soldiers for the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. These teenagers went through some horrific events, but their upbringing from their parents was strong and included “being a good human”. Anthony’s father told him when he was young, “Do you know how to be happy when you are sad or afraid? (Go play with my friends.) Good and here’s another one, look for the good things in your life and thankful. You will always be happier and less afraid if you do.” This and some other similar events stuck with Anthony and helped him be resilient.
It was just so interesting to read the non-fiction alternately with this historical fiction; they complimented each other perfectly. It is so weird when things like that happen so coincidentally.

I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to read both books. Many thanks to NetGalley, author Kate Gladdin and Alcove press the publisher for approving my request to read the advance review copy of Okay, Now What? in exchange for an honest review. Approx 240 pages. Publication date is Nov 12, 2024.

At times the Okay, Now What? was a little repetitive. (I'm sorry that the author lost her sister.)

[Crystal Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate’s journey began at twenty years old, when life dealt her a cruel hand—the sudden death of her older sister in a tragic road accident. The world tilted on its axis, and Kate found herself standing at the crossroads of grief, confusion, and the overwhelming question: Now what?

As I turned each page, I felt Kate’s presence beside me, whispering, “You’re not alone.” Her relatable anecdotes, sprinkled with humor, reminded me that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about bouncing back when we do break. She shared stories of people who rebuilt their lives after devastating losses—a firefighter who lost his leg but found purpose in mentoring troubled teens, a widow who turned her grief into a nonprofit supporting other widows.

“Okay, Now What?” isn’t a quick fix; it’s a journey. Kate’s warmth and wisdom seeped into my soul, urging me to embrace life’s unexpected twists. She taught me that resilience isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about dancing with it, learning its steps, and waltzing forward. And so, I waltzed—sometimes with grace, sometimes stumbling—but always moving.

So, dear reader, if you’re facing a storm, grab this book. Let Kate be your guide. And when life whispers, “Now what?”—you’ll know exactly how to answer

[Bisi Miyebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

- For someone like me that finds it difficult to read non-fiction, I was surprised that I actually enjoyed this book. Okay, Now What? is a really great manual for living life purposefully and with resilience. A book that deals with managing emotions and making the best out of it, whether life deals you a huge blow or you are coasting and having fun . I enjoyed reading this book because I learnt a whole lot, and some things I had experienced in the past started making sense. I rate this book a solid 8/10.

- I liked the fact that the book was not promising a life of bliss nor was it a motivational piece, but instead, it is a realistic book that is saying ‘look, life might not turn out how you pictured it but how are you going to react when things get sour or even better than you did’. The book contained self-improvement activities and exercises that are beneficial in being a boss over your mind and emotions.

- I recommend this book to anyone on a self-improvement or awareness journey, anyone that is going through or has gone through a rough patch and anyone that wants to go through life with the right mindset and attitude, no matter what life swings their way.

- Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Gladdin for this book

[Marcey Rader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Gladdin does an excellent job at sharing what resilience is and how it can apply to many situations without talking down to us. She takes the tragic loss of her sister and shows how she was able to move forward...imperfectly because there is no perfect path on the road forward. She doesn't diminish other situations we may feel are crushing, whether it's a breakup, loss of a job or pet, or even just being told we weren't good at something.
I appreciate her methodology and journal prompts and will continue to remember that wherever we go, our brain goes with us!

[Rose Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a life coach. She lost her beloved sister in a scooter accident. Her book tells how she learned to cope after it felt like her life has crashed. She teaches the 3 R's: recognize, reflect and re-direct. My life has pretty much crashed when I was 18 hours from flying to Paris to study French but instead, I had to have open-heart surgery. This books was helpful for me.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic read! I loved listening to the audio version which is read by the author. she has a fantastic accent.

awesome advice all the way through. And read or listen to the very end, including acknowledgements and suggested readings and podcasts.

I recommend this book to everyone. we all go through something in our lives and resilence is key!

[Denise Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written self help books with a compelling message and real world tips, I appreciated the authors story and how she was able to apply her story and her journey to the how, The books is very accessible to those who haven’t done therapy or coaching before

[Jennifer Slaght · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Not exactly the self help I was looking for. I am going to reread it because I feel there are some good lessons, but they are not aggressive enough for my personality. They are about being gentle with yourself; which is what some people need.

[Ronda Canary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3

[Kasia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 19%