This gem of a book explores so many psychological and emotional issues, as well as focusing on mindfulness meditation. I intend to purchase a copy of this book, and use it as a daily or weekly workbook. This book from my library has been on my nightstand for 3 weeks, and I dip into it almost daily.
Mindfulness meditation is a simple concept and is so very popular, but not easy for a person with a mind that hops all over the place and just can't slow down. The health benefits are widely known in decreasing stress and bringing about relaxation.
All types of anger are explored in a non-judgmental fashion, from episodes of rage (new or from old life events), to anger we experience without knowing why, to minor irritation. I was drawn to this book because it deals with people with a low frustration tolerance (me :-/).
Our county's library system invested in approximately 40 new books per branch recently in its "Mind Matters" program. The books cover everything from drug and alcohol addiction, to specific books on many psychological disorders, to guides on finding professional help, community resources, etc. This Mind Matters project came into being as our county's libraries are now all seeing an increase in the homeless population and other people with mental disorders coming into the libraries. The books are meant to help the public and library staff understand these issues and people, and the public and readers who need such books for reference.
Here is an excerpt from the wonderful book:
Forgiveness as an Act of Self-Compassion
Our capacity to make peace with another person and with the world depends very much on our capacity to make peace with ourselves. -- Thich Nhat Hanh
Specific Practices for Forgiveness
A variety of strategies and insights can help you expand your capacity for forgivingness.
*Identify your baseline regarding forgiveness. It will be helpful for you to determine your baseline for forgiveness: the degree to which you're forgiving in general. (both page 146)