The Mindful Path through Shyness: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You from Social Anxiety, Fear, and Avoidance

by Steven H. Flowers, Jeffrey Brantley (Foreword)

Research shows that chronic shyness has core components of self-blame, private self-consciousness, shame, and resentment. These mental habits operate automatically and often unconsciously, but by bringing mindful awareness into these cognitive and emotional states, it is possible to regulate our attention and emotions. The Mindful Path Through Shyness helps readers who struggle with shyness social anxiety begin to notice the patterns that cause them to feel isolated and take steps toward change.

Readers will identify the origins of their shyness and learn how they have reinforced this behavior by avoiding social situations and dwelling on feelings of self-consciousness and shame. They then discover activities and skills drawn from mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), including mindful meditation, conscious breathing, yoga, and simple exercises, that can help them overcome fears and judgments.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Meditation, Mental Health

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone really wanted to understand me, they could just read this handy book!

[ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book on how mindfulness relates to shyness. It provides a good foundation for understanding how people who are shy treat themselves with endless harsh criticism and judgement. It also provides a good selection of meditation practices to get you started on the path.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has to sit for a while. It's more of a self-help book with exercises to help someone with their shyness. The author talks about his own and others' experiences of shyness, although you could probably apply the philosophy and exercises to many other things.

It became somewhat repetitive to read for a while and I think it's clear this is (for me) more of an ongoing book to come back to and go through gradually.

Definitely worth it for those who have an interest in conquering shyness and an interest in mindfulness.

[Tony Almquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book, introduced me to mindfulness, redirecting yourself into the moment, letting unpleasant thoughts pass, instead of fighting them and saying no or vocalizing to block. Stephen mostly avoids the clichéd Stuart Smally-isms to explain his ideas, but gets a little repetitive. Some more stories and examples would have helped. but overall, reading the book did me alot of good

[Mark Yashar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good guide to the different mindfulness methods and techniques
(like meditation and yoga) one can use to deal with and try to self-treat shyness
and social anxiety.