Mindfulness in a Busy World

Book excerpt: How can we increase the likelihood that people will be able to control their wandering mind, let go of upsetting thoughts and feelings, and apply the wisdom of mindfulness training to their day-to-day lives? Mindfulness in a Busy World offers a bridge between the ancient wisdom of Eastern mindfulness teachings and the busy Western lifestyle of the tech era where an increasing number of people experience stress, anxiety, impatience, and an inability to be present in meaningful interactions. While traditional practices offer incredible possibilities of well-being and development, many people struggle to access these states of mind and ripen the skills to sustain them. This book offers insights into ways of mobilizing the brain’s attention systems so that distracted minds—often habituated to the constant overstimulation of screens and media—can more readily cultivate focus, calm, and kindness. Our society invests years in instructing people how to read, write, count, and think critically, but often forgets to support the crucial foundation of these abilities: focusing the mind. Learning to tame the mind allows people of all ages to live a more fulfilling life, balancing being and doing, thinking and feeling, listening and talking, compassion for self and others, and being an individual while belonging to a community. Distinctive features of this book: Brain-based strategies that render a focused mind within reach of everyday people Unique set of 18 breathing methods and over 27 other types of exercises which can quickly reset an agitated body or distracted mind Activities that make visible the remarkable powers of the mind to create and dissipate experiences of emotional or physical discomfort Specific strategies to facilitate inner peace and emotional regulation Simple but fascinating challenges—only achievable through mindfulness—that will leave people in awe of what their minds can do Intriguing collection of pain tolerance tests making it exciting to engage in the practices Mindfulness exercises that move beyond individual well-being and extend to a felt sense of belonging to a diverse community Inventive ways of bringing forth kindness, compassion, and gratitude Engaging metaphors and fascinating facts that ignite people’s curiosity about little known aspects of their physiology and help them connect to their bodies Words of wisdom, meaningful stories, inspiring quotes, and thought-provoking questions that help participants apply mindfulness practices to real life situations