Patrick Regan - Bouncing Forwards: Notes on Resilience, Courage and Change

Bouncing Forwards has been chosen as the 4th Big Church Read of 2021. Churches, organisations or individuals commit to read through a chosen book together at a chosen time, meeting in small groups either in person or online to talk about what theyve read. To sign up for the Big Church Read, visitthebigchurchread.co.uk

This is a brilliant, timely book for everyone especially when life is vulnerable and volatile and it has been written by one of the most resilient leaders I know.

Pete Greig, 24-7 Prayer International and Emmaus Rd Church

Patrick and I have been close friends for many years. Over that time I have seen him experience some extraordinary challenges, not least extreme surgery to both legs and the resulting physical and emotional scars. What makes Patrick uniquely qualified to write this book is not just his wisdom on resilience but also the fact that he has so much lived experience of bouncing forward. He is an absolute inspiration to me and I know that you are going to find this book utterly life-giving and a support to anyone who is walking through a challenging season of life.

Rev Will Van Der Hart, Co-Director of mindandsoulfoundation.org

Without a triumphalist platitude in sight, Patrick offers a gentle yet compelling invitation to resilience. Like all good magpies, he has masterfully woven together nuggets of spiritual treasure from an impressive array of wise teachers, but its his own authentic wisdom that stands out the most. I loved this practical book and came away feeling encouraged and hopeful again and so will you.

Tanya Marlow, pastoral theologian and author of Those Who Wait

Shot through with remarkable honesty, deep hope and the kind of authentic wisdom only ever gained through lived experience, this is a book for our times.

John Sutherland, former Met Police Borough Commander and author of Blue and Crossing the Line

This is essential reading for all humans. Patricks research and reflections are deeply personal but universal to our experience. The way he explores how we build resilience in our lives is really practical, immensely inspiring and so helpful. Im sure something in this book will resonate and make a difference for you, as it has for me.

Abby Guinness, Head of Spring Harvest Programme

This book is a must. Not just because we are living in unusually difficult times, but because theres no sense that difficult times will ever cease to be present, this side of heaven. In Bouncing Forwards, Patrick draws on a rich tapestry of sources, stories, facts and figures to help us build our resilience and ability to navigate the rough terrain of our lives. He writes with both passion and compassion to draw us forwards into growth, into courage and ultimately into a deep sense of peace that is not dependent on our circumstances, but is shaped by who we are on the inside.

Arianna Walker, CEO of Mercy UK

Nobody is immune from the storms of life, and Patricks book is a lifeboat while the waves are crashing. But it is much more than that: Bouncing Forwards is a guide that helps us to navigate through tricky waters so that we become better equipped for the journey of life. Its an honest, wise and practical handbook for growing in resilience. I cant recommend it highly enough.

Cathy Madavan, speaker, broadcaster and author of Irrepressible: 12 Principles for a Courageous, Resilient and Fulfilling Life

Once again, Patrick is disarmingly honest and powerfully vulnerable. Bouncing Forwards reminds us that our stories are not ended by failure or vulnerability, and that grace and hope are the strongest antidotes to despair. This book renews the soul, soothes the heart and reminds us that it is OK not to be OK.

Rev Malcolm J. Duncan, pastor, author, faith and social policy advisor, broadcaster, theologian, international speaker

Its been said that good writing happens when the author sits down and opens a vein. With vulnerability and honesty that is never self-indulgent and always helpful, Patrick inspires, encourages and points us to a better today rather than just vague hope for better days. Vital stuff. Buy it.

Jeff Lucas, author, speaker, broadcaster

Patricks fervour in combating the stigma associated with mental health problems and his passion for providing encouragement and practical support for those who are going through difficult times are evident throughout this book. His approach is to bring together his personal experiences, relevant scripture, insights from behavioural science and the testimonies of others. It is a highly effective and engaging one, and this book is packed with wisdom. Patrick successfully makes a topic that is potentially hard to grasp very relatable.

Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya, consultant psychiatrist

I love the idea of bouncing forwards rather than bouncing back. Its a really helpful and hopeful image. Patrick is always honest and vulnerable in the way he writes, which is really refreshing. Hes the opposite to finger-wagging. This book offers help to us all, as we all struggle with our mental health at some point, to see a way forward and live with hope even when we face lifes toughest challenges.

Debra Green OBE, Founder and Director of Redeeming Our Communities

Patrick has given us a glimpse of reality for many. He has done so with a level of honesty, openness and gentleness that encourages us to face our challenges with the confidence that were never alone and that nothing is wasted. Inspirational, down-to-earth, real and refreshing.

Justin Humphreys, CEO (Safeguarding) of Thirtyone:eight

In Bouncing Forwards, Patrick gives us a recipe for personal resilience distilled from his own often painful experience and without any cocktail of spiritual platitudes or counterfeit optimism. A good read for living through a pandemic.

Lord Richard Chartres

Resilience is more than just a buzz word it is a science. It is not a panacea or cure for everything but it is about psychologically proven ways to improve our mental health. This is for the sake of ourselves and those around us. In this blend of personal story and research review, Patrick gives us a path worth following. He also brings in faith, one of the domains most proven to build resilience but usually overlooked by secular books on the subject. If you want to fly over lifes difficulties dont read on. If you want to bounce forwards and live through the bumps that will inevitably come our way, then this is a helpful guide.

Dr Rob Waller, consultant psychiatrist and Co-Director of mindandsoulfoundation.org

I love reading and I read a lot of books. I think I could be considered a binge reader as I usually get through a book fairly quickly as I always like to get to the end. Thats what I expected to do with Bouncing Forwards. I had it on my to read list and knew I would enjoy it; Patrick is a compelling and honest speaker and author and I knew I would eat it up, but something happened that I didnt expect with this book. I couldnt just whip through it. It wasnt that it wasnt compelling or that I didnt want to get to the next part, I did, it was more that God used it to open up things within me that I had pressed down and he wanted me to deal with. I believe we all have those things within us. Wounds that we just assume we have to accept and move on from, some wounds that only we know about that still impact today. Through reading this book I was compelled, no, moved, to spend time facing things that God only knows and pouring them out, bringing them to God and being more honest with myself than I have been in a while. It was a cleansing experience and one that I intend to continue beyond reading this book. Patrick is disarmingly honest in his writing and manages to combine biblical wisdom and secular knowledge in a way that is both understandable and real. The real-life stories told show vulnerability as well as hope, not that things always turn out as people want or expect but that God is with us in whatever we go through and cares more than we could ever imagine.