Self-Meditation: 3,299 Tips, Quotes, Reminders, and Wake-Up Calls for Peace and Serenity

by Barbara Ann Kipfer

Don’t self-medicate—self-meditate.

Meditation is not just about sitting in a quiet room. With its thousands of inspirations, techniques, affirmations, and ideas drawn from a spectrum of spiritual practices, this portable lifesaver of a book shows how to incorporate the power of meditation into your life all day long, whether at home, in the office, in traffic, while traveling—wherever you need to catch your breath, make your mind quieter and more open, and your heart happier and more peaceful.

A mantra should be one to three syllables and have a soothing sound.
Think generous thoughts.
I am a fresh seed, sprouting anew.
Cook with love—it's what separates good food from mere fuel.
Every time you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, remind yourself to speak purely and lovingly. Give your thoughts a chance to settle down.

Now, at any moment of the day or night, we can all catch our inner breath.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Meditation, Inspirational, Reference, Health

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer (born in 1954) is a lexicographer,as well as an archaeologist. She has written more than 60 books, including 14,000 Things to be Happy About (Workman), which has more than a million copies in print and has given rise to many Page-a-Day calendars. The 25th anniversary edition of the book was published in October 2014. She is the editor of Roget's International Thesaurus.

Kipfer is Chief Lexicographer of the company Temnos. She has worked for such companies as Google, Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, Answers.com, Ask Jeeves, Bellcore/Telcordia, Federated Media Publishing, General Electric Research, IBM Research, idealab, Knowledge Adventure, Textdigger, The Chicago Tribune, and WolframAlpha. Barbara holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics (University of Exeter), a PhD in Archaeology (Greenwich University), an MA and a PhD in Buddhist Studies (Akamai University), and a BS in Physical Education (Valparaiso University).

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Mary Radmacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adore this book. i open it randomly when i need a surprise prompt to kick my pen into moving. it never lets me down. i bet barbara is a witty and delightful presence at a party - walking around with so many good words in her head!

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only got a third of the way through this book. A lot of these quotes are repeated using different wording and others are just common sense. I couldn't stomach the repeated information for 400+ pages.

[Alise · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is no organization to the book. The thousands of tips, quotes and short meditations are in no order and not even numbered, just listed one after another on each page. There is no grouping, sections or chapters, just 400+ pages of short writings. Will probably toss or give away since it cannot be used in any organized way.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick little daily helps, quotes, and positive words. A nice little book to keep around your bed for a quick glance to start off the day :)

[Ryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books with lists of ideas. This one is a good one to keep in the car, or a bathroom, in a book basket in the living room, or close at hand on a book case so you can grab it, get some inspiration and set down for another day. Barbara Ann Kipfer is one of my favorite authors.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides quick and easy ways to feel more peaceful. Who can beat that?

[Jisel · Rating 1 out of 5]

You can tell a few pages in that 60% of the content is filler. I didn’t find this book helpful, but if you want someone to remind you to wake up with an open heart, go for it.

[Ms BooksAholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the author shares 3,299 tips, quotes, reminders, and wake-up calls to help you find peace and serenity in your life. The book is a valuable resource for those looking to incorporate meditation into their daily routine. When I started meditation, I began reading this book. It has been helpful through the journey. The author provides a wide range of tips and quotes that can guide you on your meditation journey. These reminders serve as gentle nudges to help you stay grounded and centered, even during life's busiest moments. The wake-up calls included in the book are designed to inspire you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. Self-Meditation is a comprehensive guide that offers practical advice on how to cultivate inner peace and serenity. It encourages readers to prioritize self-care and mindfulness in their daily lives. By incorporating the tips and quotes from the book into your routine, you can experience a greater sense of calm and balance. Overall, Self-Meditation by Barbara Ann Kipfer is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their well-being through meditation. A must-read for those looking to cultivate peace and serenity in their everyday lives.

[Am Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's lots of content, but like what other reviewers have said, it's not given any meaningful organisation at all, so the entire book is just a collection of single statements listed one after the other. And a lot of the statements are repeated - the same thing said in a different way.

I suppose this book has some use though, as a "daily reader" - you could pick it up everyday at a certain time as part of a daily ritual, and read a page or just a single statement, and use that as your mantra for the day.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all the quotes are great, some repeats through the book in one form or another, but overall there is deep thinking, and sometime even simple ones, that you need to be reminded. The kind of book that you read 2-3 quotes or pages a day, in order, or in random, and just take the time to think about it for a while. An invitation to introspection (that would have been my title for it, but I'm no editor)! Worth it!

[Susan Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange book, a positive one for sure but there is no order to any quotes, meditations, or suggestions. They are random good things to practice throughout the day. A good way to utilize this book is if you feel funky, pick it up, thumb through it and stop anywhere. This is more like a random good quote book. Not a book to be used as a guide. I would not keep this book.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of gem thoughts and snip-it’s in here. But with the way it is set up, I didn’t find myself reading it regularly to get use out of it. Fun to flip through and read sporadically but it didn’t pull me in enough.

[Lynn Pohlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips that help with your meditation practice.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A birthday gift from my Bebe Girl. I keep it by my nightstand and read several quotes it’s nice. Enjoying. Will reread. And reread.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant remember when i got this, but its been a favorite of mz kipfers collections for me. Just nice thoughts about thinking.

[Amna Musa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What i like about this book, Can Change Your Relationship, Remove Negativity, Reduce Stress, Resolve Conflicts, and Increase Loving Connection

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grounding.

[Shailey Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very randomly placed. Would be helpful if more catagorized. And a lot of repetitive quotes just with different wording. But overall good for mindfulness.

[Cindy Hunt-Whatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the day to day positive start to the day.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Barbara Ann Kipfer’s collection is a treasure trove of meditation insights, affirmations, and practical reminders designed to help readers weave mindfulness and calm into everyday life. Its bite-sized tips make meditation accessible anywhere—from the office to the car—encouraging a gentler, more present mindset throughout the day. Ideal for both beginners and seasoned practitioners seeking fresh inspiration for inner peace.

[Haya Dodokh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the perfect starting point for anybody who is interested in meditating. I love it and I think anybody would. It's got some great tips for meditating, and is always positive and reminding you to be mindful of each moment of your life. A must have for anyone who values meditation!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

love it

[Nupur Vanderlick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read a few pages here and there and I love it. All of it! I recommend it to everyone I know!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too Eastern for me in parts. But it is filled with some inspiring thoughts and I read a section a day till I completed the book. Makes one think.

[Jane Fournier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of book.