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Fully Engaged: Using the Practicing Mind in Daily Life
Better Results and Less Stress through Proven Techniques
To be fully engaged in life means that we have clear goals as well as the focus and skills to accomplish those goals with ease and a sense of calm awareness. In his first book, The Practicing Mind , which remains a bestseller in its category, Thomas Sterner set out clear guidelines for developing focus and discipline to achieve any life goal. As Tom traveled and spoke about the book, he kept track of the questions readers and participants at his seminars asked. The answers to those questions — or more accurately, the exploration of those questions — became the basis of Fully Engaged . This new book explores specific techniques, such as thought awareness training and setting goals with accurate data, and demonstrates how using these techniques will not only help you reach your objectives, but will keep you engaged in each moment of your life, throughout the process of accomplishing those goals. Being thus engaged will result in less stress and more satisfaction in every aspect of life.
To be fully engaged in life means that we have clear goals as well as the focus and skills to accomplish those goals with ease and a sense of calm awareness. In his first book, The Practicing Mind , which remains a bestseller in its category, Thomas Sterner set out clear guidelines for developing focus and discipline to achieve any life goal. As Tom traveled and spoke about the book, he kept track of the questions readers and participants at his seminars asked. The answers to those questions — or more accurately, the exploration of those questions — became the basis of Fully Engaged . This new book explores specific techniques, such as thought awareness training and setting goals with accurate data, and demonstrates how using these techniques will not only help you reach your objectives, but will keep you engaged in each moment of your life, throughout the process of accomplishing those goals. Being thus engaged will result in less stress and more satisfaction in every aspect of life.
120 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2016
74 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 8, 2016
A brief (100 pages) book that details, in the most reassuring and practical words, how to become fully engaged in your own life so that you no longer feel as though you're constantly struggling to achieve your goals. Other ways of describing this positive state of mind would be mindfulness or being in a flow state (during which you're fully engaged with whatever you're doing and the journey IS the goal (sort of). I'm not going to try to paraphrase what Sterner spends 100 pages telling us with anecdotes, ways to experiment on yourself, and very clear explication. An especially handy refresher book for those who already "know" this stuff.
January 8, 2018
A great follow-up to Sterner's first book on practicing mind. Deceptively simplistic, one needs to return to this book again and again. My meditation practices have become deeper after reading this book. I am going to buy a personal copy after having read a borrowed copy from the library.
June 20, 2017
Excellent follow up to The Practicing Mind
Highly recommend this book to everyone looking to gain more peace in their lives while unfolding their true potential as humans.
Highly recommend this book to everyone looking to gain more peace in their lives while unfolding their true potential as humans.
October 18, 2022
It's a very short and simple book on how to stay in the present moment and enjoy the process.
I really like it because the anecdotes are so simple that the mindset shift happens automatically without you noticing it.
I found myself agreeing to a lot of things that are said in this book. For example, pre meditated procedures, taking a look at the negative scenarios, some simple questions to ask yourself when you are not in the moment. How to recognise that you are not in the moment.
It also talks a little about meditation and really calls it a thought training exercise and removes the angle of religion form it which I feel is a better way of looking at meditation. It infact is an excercise for your mind and that's all.
Overall my experience reading it has been really nice.
It has some interesting ideas if you are trying to be more intentional in your life.
I really like it because the anecdotes are so simple that the mindset shift happens automatically without you noticing it.
I found myself agreeing to a lot of things that are said in this book. For example, pre meditated procedures, taking a look at the negative scenarios, some simple questions to ask yourself when you are not in the moment. How to recognise that you are not in the moment.
It also talks a little about meditation and really calls it a thought training exercise and removes the angle of religion form it which I feel is a better way of looking at meditation. It infact is an excercise for your mind and that's all.
Overall my experience reading it has been really nice.
It has some interesting ideas if you are trying to be more intentional in your life.
October 4, 2018
I absolutely love the idea of this book! It's one of those books that I want everyone to read. You know? When the idea is so fundamentally brilliant, I just wish everyone would read it. The idea itself is not entirely new to me. Even though I'm familiar with the core concept of it, I still find many interesting things I can learn. The book itself is written in a way I find very relaxing to read. It's like listening to someone who's peacefully talking about his story.
The only complain I have is that it lacks the how-to. He keeps mentioning his previous book - The Practicing Mind - which I haven't read yet. Probably the How is in that book and just like many reviewers put it, this is a great "compliment" to his previous book. Since I haven't read it yet, I can't tell if it's there or not. So if you read this, be aware that he doesn't talk much about the how-to.
Great great book indeed! I cannot recommend you enough. It doesn't matter who you are, this is something you should read and be more engaged with your life. Next on the list... The Practicing Mind.
The only complain I have is that it lacks the how-to. He keeps mentioning his previous book - The Practicing Mind - which I haven't read yet. Probably the How is in that book and just like many reviewers put it, this is a great "compliment" to his previous book. Since I haven't read it yet, I can't tell if it's there or not. So if you read this, be aware that he doesn't talk much about the how-to.
Great great book indeed! I cannot recommend you enough. It doesn't matter who you are, this is something you should read and be more engaged with your life. Next on the list... The Practicing Mind.
April 23, 2020
"Feeling the need to complete things is a survival mechanism that goes who knows how far in our evolution".
Thomas M. Sterner provides techniques such as "Thought Awareness Training" to help us to transform our lives by just thinking about what we are doing at the moment and having our complete focus.
The book is a very short read, just about 100 pages, focus mainly on the following,
1.How to be fully engaged in something we are doing.
2.How to set your goals using accurate data.
3.How to have predetermined solutions to face problems.
4.How to treat your mistakes.
Even though the topic of the book is very brief, the author has explained it very well through his personal stories. I am one of the people who take up something and expend their complete energy and focus on it but just for a short time and then move on to the next big thing (which I think at the start ). This book talks about various mediations which will help us to channelize the energy and focus on the process and be fully engaged in the process.
Thomas M. Sterner provides techniques such as "Thought Awareness Training" to help us to transform our lives by just thinking about what we are doing at the moment and having our complete focus.
The book is a very short read, just about 100 pages, focus mainly on the following,
1.How to be fully engaged in something we are doing.
2.How to set your goals using accurate data.
3.How to have predetermined solutions to face problems.
4.How to treat your mistakes.
Even though the topic of the book is very brief, the author has explained it very well through his personal stories. I am one of the people who take up something and expend their complete energy and focus on it but just for a short time and then move on to the next big thing (which I think at the start ). This book talks about various mediations which will help us to channelize the energy and focus on the process and be fully engaged in the process.
October 9, 2022
Finished reading The Practicing Mind again and started this book the same day. Both books are so helpful! As Mr. Sterner states several times in his books, what he is teaching is not new but his "voice" makes it so accessible and helpful.
October 28, 2025
Thomas Sterner is always solid.
This book holds a lot of great information. Applying the information to your life is always the challenge. Thomas outlines some great ways to do that and some stories that most people can relate to in some fashion. I still like the practicing mind just a little bit more....
This book holds a lot of great information. Applying the information to your life is always the challenge. Thomas outlines some great ways to do that and some stories that most people can relate to in some fashion. I still like the practicing mind just a little bit more....
December 11, 2018
Not as meaty as The Practicing Mind, and probably would have served better as additional content for a new edition of that book, rather than as a standalone volume. Still, it's good food for thought, and who doesn't need that?
January 14, 2019
I love how concise it is. It has kind of the same tone as most self help books (a condescending kind of funny-feel-good irony) which I don't particularly like, but it's so short it's completely bearable. Will definitely be going back to check my highlights, good read!
November 1, 2024
I really loved the practicing mind and expected this to provide, well - actual advice, as it stated. It seemed to me to be just more things the author had to say.
I 100% recommend the practicing mind, this one is redundant IMO.
I 100% recommend the practicing mind, this one is redundant IMO.
August 9, 2017
Must read
A great follow up book to the practicing mind. One of the best book on mindfulness you could read! Go for it! It will be well worth with it!
A great follow up book to the practicing mind. One of the best book on mindfulness you could read! Go for it! It will be well worth with it!
June 14, 2019
Great companion to the Practicing Mind
Glad I bought it! Gives more clarity to the practicing mind. A lot of emphasis on the big benefits of meditation.
Glad I bought it! Gives more clarity to the practicing mind. A lot of emphasis on the big benefits of meditation.
June 3, 2020
Meditation and exercise!
May 21, 2022
I’ve learned something. That is my bottom line.
February 15, 2023
Good book on immersing yourself in your work.
April 20, 2025
There are books that give you new perspective on how to live your life. It refines your understanding of the reality. This is one such book.
March 21, 2017
This book is a nice follow-up to "The Practicing Mind", best-selling title by Tom Sterner. It sets out to provide a number of "real world" applications to the philosophy presented in the first book. It is a pleasant read and very insightful, as it was its predecessor, however I wish the book could be more extensive and with more applicable content and examples based on people's daily life's struggles.
February 26, 2017
Practical look at mindfulness in life.
I'm in the process of reading several books about mindfulness and I found this one to have some great phrases and explanations. One worth the whole book: "Thought Awareness Training". The explanation was very helpful.
I'm in the process of reading several books about mindfulness and I found this one to have some great phrases and explanations. One worth the whole book: "Thought Awareness Training". The explanation was very helpful.
May 7, 2019
Endorsements:
“Thomas M. Sterner teaches his brilliant concepts in a style that is easy to understand and implement. It doesn’t matter what you want to get better at doing or being; Tom has the teachings that, when applied, will get you there.”
— Brooke Castillo, Master Certified Coach and president of The Life Coach School
“Given Thomas Sterner’s ability to tap into and awaken our consciousness, Fully Engaged promises to be the work of a modern-day philosopher that people actually care to read!”
— Alysia Silberg, UN Women Empower Women Global Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment
“Thomas M. Sterner teaches his brilliant concepts in a style that is easy to understand and implement. It doesn’t matter what you want to get better at doing or being; Tom has the teachings that, when applied, will get you there.”
— Brooke Castillo, Master Certified Coach and president of The Life Coach School
“Given Thomas Sterner’s ability to tap into and awaken our consciousness, Fully Engaged promises to be the work of a modern-day philosopher that people actually care to read!”
— Alysia Silberg, UN Women Empower Women Global Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews