SEL Muscle Mastery

Six Tools for Building Resilience and Connection in Schools and Communities

"In a world that often feels disconnected, developing 'SEL muscles' is more essential than ever for fostering meaningful connections and promoting healthy relationships—with both others and ourselves. This book masterfully combines evidence-based practices and research to present six critical tools for personal growth. Lori Woodley-Langendorff draws on the expertise of specialists, seamlessly blending neuroscience with practical, actionable steps to help readers enhance their lives."

"In SEL Muscle Mastery, Lori offers a revolutionary approach to building emotional strength and fostering connection. Her six tools are not just strategies—they are life-changing practices that align perfectly with living your passions and creating meaningful relationships. This book is an essential guide for anyone ready to make a difference in their own life and the lives of others."

"With over thirty years of experience in education, I’ve never seen a greater need for schools to be equipped with tools that address social-emotional learning. I believe we have yet to fully recognize the long-term impact COVID has had on children, and how these effects continue to manifest even five years later. This book is rooted in solid research, with tools that Lori’s team has successfully used to demonstrate effective strategies and practices that can be easily applied in classrooms. I am grateful for Lori’s expertise and collaboration with our school, and I am thrilled that others will now benefit from her valuable insights."

"As a child and family therapist, I’m often asked for quick, effective solutions that deliver immediate results. This book provides exactly that—a practical, accessible guide to better understanding yourself through six core SEL muscles. The book includes relatable examples from both classroom and home settings, and it breaks down each concept into actionable steps, empowering readers to become stronger leaders, clearer communicators, and more thoughtful problem-solvers in their families, classrooms, and communities. Each SEL muscle builds on essential skills like empathy, accountability, and curiosity, offering tools that are not only easy to apply but also profoundly effective. By consistently flexing these muscles, readers can create lasting, meaningful change in their relationships and inspire those around them to grow as well."

“SEL Muscle Mastery is a game-changer for educators and parents seeking practical strategies to strengthen emotional resilience and create a more balanced life. With relatable insights and actionable techniques, this book equips readers with six essential mental muscles to navigate challenges with confidence and ease. It's a must-read for anyone committed to fostering emotional intelligence and well-being in themselves and the children they support!"

"The topic in SEL Muscle Mastery is timely, and I appreciate the manner in which Lori Woodley-Langendorff looks at the whole person AND the whole community. The author’s passion and personal stake are evident. They are honest that there can be pitfalls and difficulties, but that the benefits make up for the struggle.

Woodley-Langendorff shows the reader that flexing your muscles doesn’t just happen in the gym: in fact, we exercise our brains and bodies almost daily, yet we often fail to recognize the necessity in stretching our social and emotional skills. SEL Muscle Mastery makes the case for not only the existence of SEL muscles, but the importance of growing them with intentionality."

“Most of us accept the gloom and doom about our school systems: disengaged staff, outdated methods, and the countless safety concerns of students— and not just physical safety, but emotional and psychological safety as well. Instead of accepting the status quo, Lori Woodley-Langendorff has written a manifesto. These are the 6 Mental Muscles educators must build to not only teach our next generation, but also to have more fun doing it. Her ideas are battle-tested daily, in her living laboratory of storytelling, filmmaking, and creating movements with educators across the globe. If you got in the game to create safe spaces for your students to thrive, this is your book.”

"SEL Muscle Mastery is an essential toolkit for anyone committed to nurturing resilience and connection for young people. This book expertly blends relatable stories and practical insights with transformative approaches, making it a must-read for educators and caregivers alike who are on the front lines of raising youth."

"SEL Muscle Mastery is for anyone wishing to broaden relationship skills with young people, family, colleagues, and larger community. Lori Woodley Langendorff has effectively outlined what and how to strengthen our core communications and trust-building muscles. Every incoming teacher and expectant family/carer should be given a copy of this book!"

"These all-too familiar stories encourage educators, parents, and caregivers to NOTICE the emotional tyranny we unnecessarily subject ourselves to. Woodley-Langendorff’s 'muscles' empower readers with simple skills to CHOOSE and strategies to ACT, thus promoting harmony in our homes and classrooms. The author reassures us that although these muscles may not be easy to flex, they get easier with time."