Lifes Tough Be Tougher – Nick Farr (1)

But, to be blunt, I did not find the experience riveting at first. I went into it expecting something magical —a sudden transformation, a Zen monk moment or a wave of bliss where everything just clicked into place. Unfortunately, that did not happen. In fact, in the beginning, meditation felt a lot like other rituals I have adopted over the years: cold water immersion or challenging forms of exercise that are not always pleasant in the moment, but undeniably rewarding afterward.

Something in me told me to stick with it. So I committed to six weeks, curious to see what would happen. Around the six-week mark, I began noticing changes. My sleep started to improve. The unrelenting fatigue that had plagued me began to lift. Even my shingles started to heal. Slowly but surely, I felt like I was coming back to myself. Yet even as my health improved, the sceptic in me clung to the idea that time was the real healer.

I had been told that time would ease the pain, and that I would be okay. As I began to feel more like myself, I thought maybe I was simply through the worst of it, now that a few months had passed. At the time I didn’t believe that meditation was having any effect. With that belief, I stopped meditating.

I figured I was healed. I resumed life as usual. It did not take long, maybe a week or so, before I began to notice a relapse. Poor sleep crept back in. My energy dipped. I felt distracted, disconnected and emotionally low all over again. It hit me like a brick wall. This was not just grief, and time alone was not the healer.

Meditation had been the anchor that I had not fully appreciated. That was the moment I recommitted to meditation, and I have never let it go. For over fifteen years now, meditation has been a non-negotiable part of my daily life, right up there with brushing my teeth. I cannot say it’s always easy. Some days the practice flows, and other days my mind fights me. But I can say, without hesitation, that it has profoundly shaped who I am, far beyond the temporary state it creates during those twenty minutes.

When I meditate my heart rate slows, my breathing deepens and my blood pressure lowers. But it’s not just about those physical changes in that moment; it’s about the traits that have emerged over time, and as a result I am calmer, more present and more compassionate. I feel more connected to myself and others. Meditation has helped me build emotional resilience—not just by improving my immediate state, but by rewiring my responses to life’s challenges. Interestingly, my introduction to meditation as an adult was actually a reintroduction.

David Buttifant has spent more than 30 years at the forefront of human performance, blending science and innovation. He has real life experience in building resilience and lasting results. With a PhD in Exercise Physiology and an MBA, his career has spanned Olympic sport, AFL premierships and a period as an Associate Professor in higher education. As a High Performance Manager in the AFL, David pioneered new approaches to performance, recovery, resilience and wellbeing that reshaped how teams prepare and perform.

Today, as Director of Resilience Builders, he partners with organisations, schools and leaders to unlock potential, strengthen culture and drive sustainable performance. Passionate about helping others flourish, David is equally grounded by his devotion to family life. A keen cyclist, hiker and adventurer, he continues to live with purpose while inspiring others to discover their own strength within. Nick Farr has led a life defined by adventure, service and resilience.

He served with Victoria Police for 21 years, including 18 as a detective, before pursuing the outdoors full-time. A passionate skier, he worked as an instructor at Mount Hotham and in 1996 founded Ski Aspen, which continues to deliver unforgettable ski experiences to this day. In 2006 he co- founded Trek Climb Ski Nepal, combining his love of mountaineering with guiding others through the Himalaya.

A veteran Himalayan guide with more than 25 years’ experience, Nick summited Mount Everest in 2005. In 2017 he co-founded Resilience Builders with David Buttifant, creating programs to strengthen leadership and resilience. Away from work, Nick enjoys the guitar, scuba diving and going on adventures with his wife Catherine and their children Madeline and Max. OceanofPDF.com OceanofPDF.com This book deals with loss and grief in relation to suicide. First published in 2026 Copyright © David Buttifant and Nick Farr 2026 All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Allen & Unwin Cammeraygal Country 83 Alexander Street Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.allenandunwin.com Allen & Unwin acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Country on which we live and work.

We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past and present. EU Authorised Representative: Easy Access System Europe, Mustamäe tee 50, 10621 Tallinn, Estonia, [email protected] ISBN 978 1 76147 268 8 eISBN 978 1 92349 262 2 Graphics by Mika Tabata Typeset by Midland Typesetters, Australia Cover design by George Saad OceanofPDF.com For my wife Maria, our children Emily, Dylan and Bronte and their partners Ed, Annabelle and Josh, and our beautiful grandchildren, who inspire me every day.

And for Nicholas, whose spirit still guides us. Your love, strength and presence are woven through every part of this book, and I’m deeply grateful for each of you.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 9ceeabb118e62bbc
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 4,323,882 bytes (4.124 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9781761472688, 9781923492622
• Pages: 226
• Language: English (en)

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