His first taste of military life came in 1998 when he joined the army at the age of 17 and served in the 9 Parachute Squadron RE and served tours of duty in Northern Ireland in 1999 and Macedonia in 2001. But such a network won’t materialize overnight. When we talk to people who have shown exceptional resilience, it’s clear that they often have cultivated and maintained authentic connections that come from many parts of their life — not only through work, but through athletic pursuits, volunteer work, civic or religious communities, book or dinner clubs, communities of parents they’ve met through their children, and so on. Interactions in these spheres provide critical “dimensionality”, broadening their identity and “opening the aperture” on how they look at their lives. We become more (or less) resilient through our interactions with others. Below are eight common relational sources of resilience, the same ones we noted above. Our research shows that these sources are not universally or equally important to everyone. For example, some people value laughter, while others prefer empathy. In short, our resilience needs are personal and are shaped by our unique history, personality, and professional/personal context. But collectively, the relationships we develop are a toolbox that we can turn to in our most difficult times, which we can rely upon to help us navigate day-to-day life challenges. Children and young people who enjoy reading very much and who think positively about reading have, on average, higher mental wellbeing scores than their peers who don’t enjoy reading at all and who hold negative attitudes towards reading (The National Literacy Trust, 2018)

Following his own experience of being in jail, Ant outlined how he used his past to offer advice to others, urging them ‘not to be afraid of failure’.

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As Jacob (who was among those we interviewed) learned in what was unquestionably the toughest period of his entire career, resilience is a team sport. Using his own experience in the military, he writes with a great deal of authenticity, making him a clear expert in his field. Setting himself apart from other writers within his field, he really understands what his readers are looking for, as he really has a voice of his own. Bringing his work to life, he immerses his readers within his writing, making it easy for them to truly invest themselves within it. And there’s a lot more to come still, as he isn’t a writer who’s going to be putting his pen away any time in the near future. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on the 22nd of September 1980, Anthony Middleton would grow up in France. Joining the army in 1998 when he was seventeen, he would serve in the 9 Parachute Squadron RE, serving tours in Ireland in 1999, followed by Macedonia in 2001. Later enlisting in Royal Marines in 2005 on the 2nd of May, he would go on to pass his 32 week commando course, before being posted to the D company, 40 Commando. Holding yourself accountable, being honest with yourself. Honestly, it will free you as an individual. But it’s really hard to do,’ he stated. Using the framework below, identify the top three sources of resilience that you would most like to strengthen in your life. Make a note of those that are most important for you to work on developing.He would also go on to begin writing as well, starting with non-fiction work, the first of which was the book ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ in 2016. Over the following few years he’d release some other similar books as well, along with ‘The Mindset Trilogy,’ beginning with ‘First Man’ in 2018. He’s also published fiction too, including the ‘Mallory’ series thrillers ‘Cold Justice’ in 2021, and ‘Red Mist’ in 2023. Ant emphasised that ultimately, he understood it was about not trying to "pass the blame" or make an excuse for his behaviour. But Jacob didn’t break. He and his team have held together as they continued to do their work throughout the pandemic. So what allowed Jacob to endure this period of extraordinary stress? Resilience.

In recent years he’s also turned to writing fiction, writing thriller novels alongside his many non-fiction titles. Whether he’s writing about positive mindsets, publishing thrillers, his writing is always immediately accessible and straight-to-the-point. Knowing his audience well at this point, he appeals to a wide-range of readers from far and wide, speaking and writing about his pursuits. Becoming a permanent fixture on the bookshelves of many, he’s fast become a bestselling sensation both nationally and internationally.

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Ant Middleton got sent to prison after he was convicted of the unlawful wounding of one police officer and of common assault upon a second outside a nightclub in 2013, for which he was sentenced to 14 months in prison. He has previously spoken candidly about the "alcohol-fuelled mistake" that led to him spending four months behind bars and described it as his "biggest learning curve" in his life, during his appearance on the ITV show. Now Ant is set to inspire young readers with Mission: Total Resilience, a guide to boosting self-esteem, building resilience, and creating coping strategies, publishing on 17 March 2022. Written with Ant’s trademark combination of positivity and authenticity, it draws on his own experiences including anecdotes from his childhood and adventures around the world. Upon leaving the army he enlisted in the Royal Marines in 2005. He passed out of his commando course in January 2006 and won the King's Badge for best all round recruit and was subsequently posted to B Company 40 Commando.