Mindfulness is a way of paying attention that originates in Eastern meditation traditions but is increasingly discussed and practised in Western culture. It is usually defined as focusing one's complete attention on present-moment experiences in a non-judgemental and accepting way. Buddhist traditions suggest that the cultivation of mindfulness through the practice of meditation reduces suffering and cultivates positive qualities, such as insight, wisdom, compassion and equanimity. In recent years, the Western mental health community has adapted mindfulness meditation practices for use in medical and mental health settings, and several interventions based on mindfulness training are now widely available. Those with the best scientific support include mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These treatments can be applied to a wide range of problems, disorders and populations and the evidence increasingly supports their efficacy. Practising Happiness is the first self-help book to integrate the wisdom, skills and practices available from the four leading evidence-based mindfulness treatments (MBSR, MBCT, DBT and ACT). FREE audio content and guided meditations are available at www.practising-happiness.co.uk

Are you looking for a better life—one filled with true contentment and joy? Everyone wants to be happy, but somewhere along the way, we fall into “traps” that prevent us from reaching our potential, our goals, and the lives we want. Sure to be a classic in the self-help genre, Practicing Happiness utilizes a cutting-edge transdiagnostic approach at the forefront of contemporary behavioral therapy to help you break free from these psychological traps, once and for all. In this important and groundbreaking workbook, internationally-recognized mindfulness expert Ruth Baer discusses the four most common psychological traps that people get stuck in: rumination, avoidance, emotion-driven behavior, and self-criticism. To help you get past these traps, Baer provides powerful, proven-effective mindfulness strategies, exercises, and worksheets to guide you, step-by-step, to the life that you deserve. Chapter by chapter, you will learn how to apply these mindfulness skills in everyday situations. And with practice, you’ll find yourself taking control of your thoughts and feelings in a new way. Instead of falling back on familiar habits, such as self-criticism, you will learn to foster an attitude of kindness and curiosity toward both yourself and the world around you. By following the exercises and tips outlined in this clear, helpful guide, you will learn to truly transform your mind—and your life!

The most helpful and practical philosophy ever devised. The advice the Stoics provided centuries ago is still the best anyone has offered and it's as useful today as it was then-or more. Stoicism means knowing the difference between what we can control and what we can't, and not worrying about the latter. The Stoics were masters of perspective, always taking the long view while remembering that life is short. And they were deep and insightful students of human nature, understanding how we manage to make ourselves miserable as well as how we seek and can find fulfillment. The great insights of the Stoics are spread over a wide range of ancient sources. Ward Farnsworth brings them all together and systematically presents what the various Stoic philosophers said on every important topic, accompanied by an eloquent commentary that is clear and concise. The result is a set of philosophy lessons for everyone-the most valuable wisdom of ages past made available for our times.

A scientifically groundbreaking, eloquent look at how we benefit -- psychologically, physically, and interpersonally -- when we practice gratitude. In Thanks!, Robert Emmons draws on the first major study of the subject of gratitude, of “wanting what we have,” and shows that a systematic cultivation of this underexamined emotion can measurably change people’s lives."--

How can we stay engaged with life day after day? How can we continue to love–to keep our minds in a happy mood–when life is complex, difficult, and, often, disappointing? Bestselling author and beloved teacher Sylvia Boorstein asked herself these questions when she started to write this inspiring new book. The result is her best work to date, offering warm, wise, and helpful ways we can experience happiness even when the odds are against us. As Boorstein has discovered in more than three decades of practice as a professional psychotherapist, the secret to happiness lies in actively cultivating our capacity to connect with kindness: with ourselves; with friends, family, colleagues; with those we may not know well; and even with those we may not like. She draws from the heart of Buddhist teachings to show how Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration can lead us away from anger, anxiety, and confusion, and into calmness, clarity, and the joy of living in the present. These qualities strengthen our ability to meet encounters of every kind with balance and intelligence, providing us with a grounded sense of true contentment. Happiness Is an Inside Job resonates with the knowledge of a psychotherapist, the compassion of a spiritual teacher, and the wisdom of a grandmother. Boorstein’s vivid stories capture our minds and our hearts, and the simple exercises she suggests can be done while you read. This beautiful book is comforting and reminds us that life is a shared journey, that our hearts truly do want to console and love our fellow sojourners, and that living happily is indeed the best way to live.

Discover the Secrets to Happiness and Well-Being The excitement you feel after hearing good news or achieving a goal is fleeting, but true happiness-that is, the warm feeling of deep contentment and joy-is lasting, and it can be yours in every moment. The Buddha's Way of Happiness is a guide to putting aside your anxieties about the future, regrets about the past, and constant longing to change your life for the better, and awakening to the joy of living. With this book as your guide, you'll identify the barriers to happiness you create in your own life and use the eightfold path of Buddhist psychology to improve your ability to appreciate the small, joyful moments that happen every day. These exercises, meditations, and concrete approaches to practicing happiness and well-being are drawn from mindfulness, "no self," and other ancient Buddhist insights, many of which have been proven effective by today's psychologists and researchers. With the knowledge that happiness is a habit you can adopt like any other, take the first step down this deeply fulfilling path on your life's journey.

What is happiness? What can we do to be happier? Why does happiness matter? In this beautifully illustrated little book, leading Positive Psychologist Miriam Akhtar introduces us to the key ingredients of a well-lived and fulfilling life. Drawing on her expert knowledge of the Science of Happiness, the author shares 12 evidence-based Happiness Habits and the key practices that will help us obtain and sustain happiness in our daily lives - such as connecting with others, feeling gratitude, spending time in nature, being mindful, savouring the moment and practising positive emotion. Bursting with practical, accessible tools and easy-to-follow exercises, this little book offers readers invaluable advice on how to create the best conditions for a happy life, well lived.

Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacy—both with others and with ourselves—creates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path. In this inspiring book, longtime meditation practitioner and teacher Sharon Salzberg shows how the Buddhist path can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each one of us, drawing on Buddhist teachings, wisdom from various traditions, her personal experiences, and guided meditation exercises. With these tools, she teaches how the practice of lovingkindness can illuminate a path to cultivating love, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—the four “heavenly abodes” of traditional Buddhism.

It's time for a new approach to the never-ending quest for more happiness! As a jazz musician, author, and recently retired professor of music, Dr. John Webb affirms that to be good at anything requires regular practice, so why not practice happiness? With a humorous approach to issues that can threaten your well-being, along with entertaining cartoons by Sarah Bausinger, Dr. Webb offers forty-three "Happiness Steps" to help you cope with today's challenging world. Dr. Webb shares the story of his wife, Toni, who, after a traumatic brain injury that caused severe memory loss, began calling herself a "blue-nosed gopher." Toni shows us how happiness can be achieved on a daily basis by living in the now and appreciating the simple things in life. You'll also learn:?how to live your life the way you want it,?how to put time on your side,?how to embrace a higher energy level,?how to tame that dangerous ego, and?how to overcome adversity! With even a little practice, happier and more meaningful days are possible. You can have a better NOW. And be a blue-nosed gopher!

In those times when we want to acquire a new skill or face a formidable challenge we hope to overcome, what we need most are patience, focus, and discipline, traits that seem elusive or difficult to maintain. In this enticing and practical book, Thomas Sterner demonstrates how to learn skills for any aspect of life, from golfing to business to parenting, by learning to love the process. Early life is all about trial-and-error practice. If we had given up in the face of failure, repetition, and difficulty, we would never have learned to walk or tie our shoes. So why, as adults, do we often give up on a goal when at first we don’t succeed? Modern life’s technological speed, habitual multitasking, and promises of instant gratification don’t help. But in his study of how we learn (prompted by his pursuit of disciplines such as music and golf), Sterner has found that we have also forgotten the principles of practice — the process of picking a goal and applying steady effort to reach it. The methods Sterner teaches show that practice done properly isn’t drudgery on the way to mastery but a fulfilling process in and of itself, one that builds discipline and clarity. By focusing on “process, not product,” you’ll learn to live in each moment, where you’ll find calmness and equanimity. This book will transform a sense of futility around learning something challenging into an attitude of pleasure and willingness.