Mindfulness for Life

by Stephen McKenzie

Mindfulness is a form of mental training that has been widely practised for millennia, however it’s only recently that science and clinical practice have discovered the profound potential of mindfulness-based practices for increasing our wellbeing.

Our tendency to not be fully present in life has vast implications. Being unmindful means wasting our lifetime, missing important information, increasing our risk of physical and social accidents and communicating more superficially with other people. Importantly, it makes us unhappier than we realise and vulnerable to stress and poor mental health. By focusing on what is rather than be distracted by what isn’t mindfulness can make us much calmer, happier and healthier beings.

‘Mindfulness for Life’ is the only book you will ever need on mindfulness. It shows you how to apply mindfulness techniques to your own life whether you need help with medical conditions, personal development or spiritual development. Chapters are included stress and ageing, anxiety, depression, addiction, attention deficit orders, pain, weight management, eating disorders, heart disease and stroke, cancer, dementia and sleep; lifestyle, education, workplace, parenting and sporting enhancement; and self-actualisation, happiness and enlightenment development.

‘Mindfulness for Life’ is written by two experts in the field who bring the medical perspective of an international authority on mindfulness and the psychological perspective of a researcher. The result is a book that translates the scientific principles behind mindfulness into a simple, practical and accessible manual to applying mindfulness — for life.

Dr Stephen McKenzie has over twenty years of experience in researching and teaching a broad range of psychological areas. He has a unique ability to present potentially complex information in a warm, engaging and entertaining way. He is currently a lecturer and research fellow at Deakin University’s School of Psychology, where he is investigating mindfulness as a clinical treatment.

Dr Craig Hassed is an internationally recognised expert in mindfulness who has been instrumental in promoting mindfulness as a simple and accessible technique for enhancing wellness, preventing and managing illness, and improving performance within health, educational and corporate settings. He is the founding president of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association.

‘Do read this book. Do give it to someone you care about ... Mindfulness works!’ Ian Gawler OAM

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Science, Psychology, Spirituality

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2012

Reviews

[Sally O'wheel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the ground in the recent 6 week course i did on line from Monash Uni, Craig Hassad, one of the authors was one of the lecturers in the course. It has been quite life changing. I'm glad I did the course before I read the book because the book gives the science and the theory but not so much the practice and the practice is the most important thing about meditation.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my life, as in the lives of many others, I have had to deal with many challenges and these continue on a daily basis. I am a full time carer to my seriously disabled husband and in need of help in accepting my situation and in relaxing generally.
Mindfulness has the potential to really help me and I’ve already seen a reduction in anxiety levels as I’ve put some simple exercises into practice. I will be backing my knowledge up with a course and further reading, but this book lays some excellent groundwork.
It is not a how to, as much as an illustration of what impact mindfulness can have on a range of conditions. The authors are able to back up their conclusions with numerous scientific studies as well as their own professional experiences in the field.
This is delivered in an occasional humorous way and this lifts the book from just being a dry manual suitable only for those in the field already. The book also links up with other exciting fields such as epigenetics and has fuelled my desire to study in greater detail.
Highly recommended

[Aleksandra Gardecka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has introduced me to the world of mindfulness and I am staying in! It's written by two scientists careful not to introduce any dogma or religious practise. Every example is based and referenced by the proper scientific study, making this book a great experience for everybody sceptical of religious or ancient-but-not-researched practises.

[pola ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

To książka, na którą poświęciłam dłuższy czas i rozłożyłam w miarę tego, jak bardzo mogłam skupić się na jej czytaniu. To nie książka na jeden wieczór. Dużo danych naukowych na to jak praktykowanie uważności (nie tle, co formalna medytacja, ale właściwie o wiele prostsze techniki, jak na przykład skupianie całej swojej uwagi na jeden danej czynności czy uważne słuchanie bez przerywania, albo zauważania swoich myśli) wpływa pozytywnie na dobrostan jednostki. Jeśli ma się jakieś sceptyczne założenia co do tego czy praktykowanie uważności ma jakiś sens, nawet w stanie depresji czy choroby, to warto sięgnąć po te książkę. Myślę, że też jest tak, że trafi ona w ręce tych, którzy naprawdę czują, że ją potrzebują. Więc bardzo zachęcam, nawet w naszej ciekawości tkwi ziarno jakiejś niezaspokojonej potrzeby. Cytując autora książki “Za uważnością, tak jak z oświeceniem i z życiem, nie kryje się żadna specjalna, wielka tajemnica. Nie szukaj jej. Po prostu bądź”. Ot co.

[Tayylor]

A very useful and informative guide to understanding how and why mindfulness can be used in all aspects of life. While it does not provide an in-depth look into the actual practice of mindfulness, it does provide an alternative form of guidance that is just an necessary. By examining mindfulness (and mindlessness) through a scientific lens, it offers a stronger sense of purpose for people who may have doubts or are uncertain about the immense potential that this practice can have. The book can be repetitive at times, but this is because the authors do not expect you to read it like a normal book (I consider this a good thing). While I may absolutely find other books that replace this in the future, for now this has done its job well and will be able to be referred to continually when needed.

[Werka · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Halo, gdzie Polski odpowiednik?!
To było naprawdę interesujące, nie dziwię się, że ta książka jest polecana przez psychologów. Spodziewałam się czegoś innego i bardzo miło się zaskoczyłam.
Super, przytoczone historyjki, nie jak w innych książkach tego typu, część bardziej naukowa napisana prostym i zrozumiałym dla każdego językiem, lekki humorek i świetna zabawa przy czytaniu. Chcę więcej takich książek-poradników!

[Ola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeśli oczekujemy tylko teorii - książka 5/5, jeśli chodzi nam stricte o praktykę, będzie to raczej nietrafiony wybór. Ja wyniosłam z niej nie tyle wiedzę o samej uważności, a bardziej o wielu niesamowitych koncepcjach „około medytacyjnych” , które otworzyły mi mocno głowę. Jestem BARDZO zainspirowana!.. na razie zostawiam 4⭐️, ale muszę się jeszcze z tym przespać. Są to może bardziej takie 3.6⭐️

[Jo Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully simple but detailed explanation of mindfulness and how science has shown it can help with life and the stressors of living it.
Whether you are new to mindfulness or an old hand I would highly recommend this book.

[Kandyb · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10
I do yoga and meditate and I am all about mindfulness. I'm not there but I am trying. I know about it from my yoga teacher from having done it myself, I know it works. But it's all abit hippie.
It's interesting to see it from a medical, scientific POV to how it all works.

[Lulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for those seeking a deeper understanding of mindfulness practice. Parts of this book were included as study material during a psychology post grad program I finished, I’m glad I have now completed the entire book. Definitely worth a read.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the science of mindfulness. Convinced me to give it a try, and I started seeing benefits within the first week. Wish someone had recommended mindfulness training to me sooner!

[Debbie Porro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book with detailed descriptions of how mindfulness can be helpful for many conditions.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of quotes I found meaningful from this book:

pg 8 "There are other forms of meditation that use a focus of attention other than our body, such as a mental image (imagery), a short mental statement of belief or aspiration (affirmation), a sense of stillness (stillness meditation) or a mantra, and these can all help us achieve peace, relaxation, a sense of connectedness, inner stillness or silence, insight, self-knowledge, better health, improved performance and, in a religious context, oneness with God or Self....

What all forms of meditation have in common is that they make us calmer and happier by helping us focus on what IS rather than be distracted by what ISN'T."

pg 255 "The teenager's paradox is that they often mindlessly conform to their rebellion: if everybody rebels in exactly the same way, and wears exactly the same rebellious clothes and listens to exactly the same rebellious music, then everybody is actually a conformist."

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to mindfulness and its applications in various situations and conditions. Each chapter is filled with anecdotes, case studies and scientific research to make examples more relevant, but they tend to repeat through the chapters so the book is not worth reading cover to cover, but just pick a few with titles that piques your interest and dip in and out of the book as a handy reference.

[Amy Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It begins with a down-to-Earth introduction to mindfulness, follows with practical applications of mindfulness in clinical settings, discusses how mindfulness can facilitate professional development (e.g., in sporting and parenting arenas) and culminates with a case for the relationship between mindfulness and self-actualisation and enlightenment.

[Jigar Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the only book on mindfulness you need to read. It covers all aspects of Mindfulness right from Mindfulness techniques to how mindfulness can help overcome depression, anxiety, pain etc. Overall a good read

[Delwyn Riordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book a little disappointing. I had expected it to be an easy read and a simple introduction but I felt that it didn't really give the reader enough to work with in terms of the "how" of mindfulness though there were certainly reasons piled upon reasons for why we should be mindful.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindfulness is a modern word for meditation. Though mindfulness also covers general awareness of life as it happens. Good ideas, though I found much of this book was trying to convince me. I preferred the how-to sections.

[Ben Whitbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and lifelong..... Daily research book that keeps me in the moment ...

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting subject matter but not particularly well written

[Kent Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite honestly a very boring book. Has a lot of good information, but is presented in a very boring way.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and it had good anecdotes along with humour. However, it got to be repetitive.