Mindfulness Made Easy: Teach Yourself

by Martha Langley

Mindful meditation has been around for thousands of years, and is used by top therapists as a highly effective way of overcoming anxiety, depression and a number of other emotional difficulties. It has also caught the popular imagination as a wonderful way of living in the moment and increasing one's enjoyment of life.

If you are suffering from low moods, feeling anxious, or just want to learn an amazing technique for gaining control of your mind and feelings, this book is a clear and approachable introduction to the power of mindfulness.

The most straightforward guide available, it gives practical step-by-step instructions on how to integrate mindful thinking into your daily life using a variety of different exercises, and shows how to use mindfulness to overcome almost anything, from depression and anxiety to over-eating and relationship difficulties.

Discover how to be mindful in your daily life, and find a new, more peaceful path to walk every day.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Martha Langley also writes as Lesley Bown

Reviews

[Douglas Gibson]

I read about 7 to 10 "Self Help" books a year and this is one of the best. I started a mindfulness journey and I wish I would have had this book at that time! The layout is very "Magazine style" with short and to the point chapters which include many bulleted points and lists. I borrowed this book from the library but am going to need to buy it because it's a good reference book to own and I want to do all the journal exercises that I didn't have time to do while reading.

[Mike]

Very little on how to meditate and yet this seemed to be the core of mindfulness.

Mindfulness comes from;
Living in the moment
Acceptance and acknowledgement
Being kind to yourself.
... And that through meditation we can arrive at all three of these goals.
(But they're not goals. We should let go of goals. Apparently).
Sorry, my life is full of goals. My goal in reading this was how to learn to be more mindful. And failed.

Though it says very little on 'how'.
Maybe I'm approaching the subject too scientifically.
Whilst meditating, be in the moment, by not thinking about the past or the future. Well, I'm sorry, but I thought I was going to get more than that. It all becomes quite tautological.

The word mindful became in the end, irritating, which isn't good for a book trying to make it, whatever *it* is, easy.
We had mindful eating, - try to eat mindfully, by being mindful whilst your eating. I'm paraphrasing. But that's the gist.
Mindful walking.
Mindful driving.
Mindful working.
Mindful exercise
Mindful relationship.
Mindful reading.

In fact, anything could be mindful, if you're mindful whilst you're doing it, whatever being mindful means.

Apologies to the author and those that enjoyed this book.

I'd still like to find a decent handbook on meditation.

[Collin]

This simple book taught me how to meditate but also why it can help in every day life and time of crises.

I was new to meditation before. I just went once to a public one and it brought me a great moment of peace (while I was overstressed in my life at that time).
So I wanted to know more about it and deepen my knowledge.
I came across to this book that came at the right time.
It has been for me life changing. I liked how all the meaningful steps and exercises are given (even though some of them feel strange at first!)

I am so thankful because I have experienced meditation simply, patiently and lovingly through this book.

I recommend this book to my English speaker friends willing to approach meditation and mindfulness as well as to share my experience.

I am from France and I regret I can't find it in French translation... I'm back to my country now and I can't find for my friends a book this good, easy to read with all the little exercices that are so important in the process.

I greatly recommend this book for new to meditation willing to learn.

[Courtney]

I love this book so much and it brings awareness and a new perspective on life. How mindfulness plays a part in every area of your life. I loved it acknowledging that we're so much doing and not allowing ourselves to just be. Understanding of not wanting to do something because of fear of judgement. It reinforced a quote from Fearne's book "mindfulness as awareness". Live in the moment. Elements of flow(rules, training, ritual). Qualities of meditation(in the moment, acknowledgment and acceptance, kindness, patience, openness, vulnerability, curiosity, concentration) . Mindfulness ABC(Awareness, Breathing, Calmness). STOP acronym(Signal, Take control, Opposite, Practice). The acknowledgment of self talk . Take time out if it becomes too much. Not all stress is bad. Stress starts with a thought. Stages of grief are shown in here also.

[Cristina]

I’ve read a lot of self-help books, but this is the only one that actually makes sense and teaches you something potentially useful. Very well written and structured, containing a multitude of guides and practical exercises that can help improve your life and mental health. I will probably go back to those topics every once in awhile :) I like how Langley stresses the importance of self-tolerance and not judging yourself for your thoughts and actions, but instead teaches you to be patient and to love yourself. I can definitely relate to this book.

[Erika]

Some good tips for practicing mindfulness in daily life - nothing too daunting.

[Deborah]

Many thanks to Goodreads for the copy of Mindfulness Made Easy ; Teach Yourself by Martha Langley. I don't come to this book as someone who is unfamiliar with the concept of Mindfulness, having done a 2 month course in it 2 years ago. I do not meditate everyday, although I have to say when I did I found it very helpful and calming - just so many distractions in daily life ! as we all know , and find it useful tool in my ongoing battle with chronic pain and depression.
This book is great for someone who doesn't want to feel overwhelmed, which as good as some books on the topic are, can make you feel. Written in bite size user-friendly amounts, it is easy to pick up and access. I have found it a great refresher on the topic, and there are many great tips throughout the book. This is a great book for those who are new to Mindfulness or want a refresher in it, it is written in plain speak, just as if someone was talking to you.
In summary, I have been looking at different parts of this book over the last 10 days, it's really easy to dip in and out of. If you are new to Meditation take your time, and be prepared that it may take time.....it's all in here, stick with it....great book. Only thing that would make it 5* for me is a CD to go with it for the meditation.

[Kirsty]

I decided to look into Mindfulness as it was recommended by a friend to help perhaps cope with some stressful times of late.

Mindfulness seems like a generally good philosophy to adopt and this book gives you an in depth instruction into how to get started with it, without seeming too daunting.

Recommended to anyone who wants to see what Mindfulness is all about.

[Hui Fang]

Good read. There are ample exercises in the book so you can always try to put what you read into practice.

[John Duncan]

I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway. It's an excellent guide to mindfulness techniques and a great guide to help cope with the stresses of everyday life.