A Mindful Year: 365 Ways to Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life

by Aria Campbell-Danesh, Seth J. Gillihan, Alice Boyes (Foreword)

From two experts on the psychology of behavior change comes A Mindful Year , the first book of its kind to join the age-old wisdom of mindfulness with cognitive behavioral science—the best-tested set of practices for alleviating stress and anxiety. At a time when there have never been more ways to connect with one another, it has also never been easier to lose track of the people and passions we hold most dear. The demands of the day can leave us feeling exhausted and uninspired, while alerts and notifications constantly tug at our attention. We fall into unhealthy patterns that can be all too difficult to break. Written from friend to friend, one day at a time, A Mindful Year invites you to start a new pattern—one that begins with taking just a few quiet moments to reconnect with what is most important, each day. As practical as it is inspirational, A Mindful Year marries moments of mindful reflection with calls to action—daily nuggets of wisdom paired with friendly encouragement to live in a way that is grounded, authentic, and compassionate. It’s so easy to get caught up in the flood of everyday life, to become disconnected from the things that really make us us —to get lost. Thankfully, simply being open and attentive to the present moment can help us find a sense of space and ease and get back on the right track. With A Mindful Year as your guide, reconnect with what matters most.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Spirituality, Psychology, Personal Development, Philosophy, Audiobook

465 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan is a self-help book….

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Blackstone Publishing, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis and Opinions:

This book is meant to encourage the reader to look into themselves and connect to the important aspects of their life.  Basically, the authors wrote to each other every day for a year, sometimes about what was going on in their life, sometimes just philosophical ideas or thoughts.

It is meant to be read as a daily inspirational, and I actually found it to be just that.  Each days reading usually started with a quote from a famous personality (for example Martin Luther King Jr. or Eleanor Roosevelt).  Then the authors letter of the day (they alternated days), and then a follow-up "invitation", for you to give some thought to what was just written.

Needless to say I am trying to stick to the schedule, and some days I can't relate to what I read, and others I can.  Overall,  this is probably the best daily inspirational I have found.   The only suggestion I have is to make sure you take some quiet time to read and reflect.  It can't be rushed.

Definitely recommend this book for those who occasionally need some thought-provoking reflections.

For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Mayke ☕️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Steph LaPlante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Mindful Year is a book with daily readings that help you be present and remind you how to find happiness in your life. Written by two experts in the field of behavioural therapy, they pepper in stories from their own lives to help depict the lessons, reflections, and meditations they recommend for the day.

I enjoyed this novel and found inspiration and wisdom within its pages. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys daily readings and wants to find ways to be more present and appreciative of their lives.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this and really wanted to like it, but I found it incredibly dull and hard to read. It's 365 short, rambling essays with a little takeaway of something you're supposed to think about that day. For example, January 20 opens with a quote about uncertainty and then a little one page sermon on embracing uncertainty. It ends with the day's "invitation" (your job for that day) -- "If you find yourself worrying about an uncertain outcome today, remember: life is uncertain. Open to the continual unfolding of life as it is revealed moment by moment."

There are no photos, illustrations, colors. Every day is just this sort of rambling intro and then something you're supposed to accept or think about. I'm afraid it was a miss for me.

My rating system:

1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost

I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.

[Lori Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great way to start each day, just reading a quick passage to help focus my thoughts in a helpful and positive manner. I spent one to two minutes each morning before checking texts or emails and infused a dose of something positive before tackling anything else. Some entries were much more profound for me, and they were all good. I’m staring at the beginning again for 2023.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a refreshing read, and I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I read a lot of books like this, and you do hear the same old things recycled. This one was full of fresh insights, and encouragement to help the reader start a new routine in beginning each day with reflection and a few quiet moments.

The book uses both meditative techniques and cognitive behavioural exercises to suggest ways of alleviating stress and anxiety, and this is a book I will return to again and again. In the interests of providing a review, I did read the book in one go even though it's intended to be read a day at a time as there are 365 'sections', so I would like to reread this starting in January as the authors intended, ie a page or so every day.

NOTE: I was provided with a free ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dip in as you go book. So will mark read but keep on sampling. The selection of quotes are genius.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty much perfect mindfulness prompt for every day. I want to buy this book for everyone I know.

[Ty Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gifted to me by my daughter because she thought it would be something I would like to read. Read by the authors I enjoyed this tremendously. It’s great to know that people experience the same types of wonders all over the world. You are not alone, and it helps to know that! Thank you for this book!

[Marisa Vasselli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the daily intentions this book encourages you to set and the mindfulness journey it took me on this year.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as intended, one day at a time for the entire year. While some essays were simplistic, all added valuable reminders in how to gently focus on awareness. I am grateful to have found this book and recommend it to anyone interested in a gentle segue into mindfulness.

[Mark Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was average. The first half of the year it seems that the author was excited, and had a lot to write about each day. As the year went on, the content became more trite and forgettable.

This is probably not a book that I will be chopping at the bit to reread .

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book is structured in a way that encourages daily reading of 1-2 paragraphs on a concept/idea/thought/encouragement. Each day starts with a quote and then an example/story relating to the quote/idea and then a small encouragement of something the reader can try out or think about in this same area. Here's one example:

"Today why not feast on life? Once we're gone this world will go on without us in almost exactly the same way, just as it did before we arrived. Feel what it's like today to fully inhabit this life. This is your time."

There are bits and pieces from research, from famous writers, from inspirational quotes, etc.

"Research has shown that we're prone to "hindsight bias," meaning we factor our current knowledge into decisions made in the past."

There are many invitations to reflect, to look back, to set goals, to be in the present.

"What have I learned about myself? In what ways have I changed? What will I miss about this chapter in my life? What will I be glad to leave behind? What will I take with me?"

If you've read extensively, like I have, none of these are thoughts you never heard before. And they are all reminders I appreciate regularly. so, for me, this is a perfect bedside companion to start every morning with and end each day with. 1-2 minutes to help make myself more mindful is a precious gift.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Blackstone Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[BeverlyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book on January 1st 2020 and when I started these daily readings, who knew what kind of year this was going to be!!! Although a few of the days readings did not really apply to this crazy year, for the most part, each daily reading was a stepping stone that helped me deal with the stress, the feelings of being overwhelmed by what was happening around the world and in my own community. Loved it!

2023: I started this daily reading of Mindfulness on January 1st to remind myself of the lessons that kept me going in 2020. Relevant, needed, and this helped me with my goal of finding a Balance in my work and life.

[James Hallmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good brief daily readings. These are “mindful” readings, some rely on sacred texts with universal commonalities, most rely on personal observations and experiences, some on literature, art, etc. It would be hard to find any of these offensive or disagreeable. Just good things to think about. Each entry takes a minute or two or three to read. I read one a day (generally) but read ahead a bit to get it on your Christmas list for the persons in your world who might find it good food for thought.

[Finding My Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a simple, quick, and easy way to be mindful every day. With daily thoughts and activities (referred to as "invitations") there is something every day of the year. The readings are short and very easy to read first thing in the morning or the night before. I have found this book a great addition to my morning routine.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great! I feel very relaxed after putting to practice what I read. I feel this book is great for EVERYONE! Lets face it, in todays world we could all get some use out of relaxing.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me this advanced readers copy in return for my honest review.

[Alex Furst · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Mindful Year" by Aria Campbell-Danesh and Seth Gillihan. 5/5 rating.

This is a book of short, daily meditations that I found the perfect way to start each of my days!

I read this book almost daily in 2024, but had just a few to catch up on to finish today.
I found this book on sale through Bookbub last year about this time (I think it is again this year which you should take advantage of!!) and thought to myself that I could use more mindfulness and calm in 2024. Of all of the important books that I have read this year, this is the one that continually brings me back to the important things in life - even on the hardest days. I unabashedly and absolutely recommend everyone go buy this and spend this next year beginning their mornings with a pause, some breaths, and a reading each morning.

The byline for this book is "Reduce Stress, Manage Anxiety, & Find Happiness in Everyday Life" and this book certainly helped me on the path towards those.

Here's only a few of the huge amount of quotes that I cherished this year:
- "One of the biggest challenges to connecting with what’s most important to us is the feeling that we “should” be doing something else—even when we’re doing exactly what we need to be doing."
- "Goals are important. They give us direction. If we become too absorbed with the end point, however, not only do we miss out on the joy of the moment, but we also handicap ourselves."
- "There is more to life than simply increasing its speed."
- "The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."
- "In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just being." —Eckhart Tolle
- "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "We take work, traffic queues, restaurant service, the comments of others, our Wi-Fi speeds, and ourselves all too seriously. We become tight and tense, trying to control how others perceive us. Instead, we could be at ease and relaxed, responding to the gifts of life in the moment. This is a way of being that flows. This is a way of being we can cultivate."
- "When anything threatens your peace of mind today, remember this: 'Only I am responsible for my happiness.'"
- "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us." — Alexander Graham Bell

[S Mille · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to review. Most books are read over a few days depending on the length of the book, how interesting it is, how much free time one has available. This book, however, is meant to be read over a year, reading a page or so a day. After reading the page, one should pause and reflect on the comments as part of your mindful practice.

I did try and follow this for a few days, but it felt odd for a couple of reasons, One, it’s June, and the book starts in January, so I was starting either in the middle of the book or in a very different season. The other is that this is one of the few books that I think would work best as a physical copy instead of an e-book as for me, part of being mindful is disconnecting from digital devices.

Still, I liked the idea and am planning on getting a physical copy of this book.

[Sarah Brousseau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 104/100: A Mindful Year: 365 Ways to Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life by Aria Campbell-Danesh, Seth J. Gillihan. As you all probably noticed on my instagram, I usually read a page a day of this Kobo book, mostly because it was dated and I didn't want to be behind. Now on December 21st 2020, this book I started on January 1st has come to an end. With its wonderful insight and bringing me back to the moment, I felt that I could at least connect with myself in this crazy year of ups and downs, isolation or not, getting fresh air or not, bawling my eyes or staring into nothing, I felt that this book became a constant when there was none.

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best, if not the best, daily reading books I have read (out of >100). Written by two psychologists (I think) who alternate days (I think), each days reading starts with an EXCELLENT epigraph (I copied ⅔ of the quotes into my journal), followed but a reflection that directly relates to the quote (refreshing and unfortunately unusual).

I found the book thought provoking and also returned to the various ideas presented later in the day, on a regular basis. Which is exactly my idea of a 5 star daily reading book. This one goes in my Daily Reading Hall of Fame!

Strongest possible recommendation!

[Michelle Poirier · Rating 5 out of 5]

First picked up this book to get out of a reading slump… a page a day seemed manageable at anytime. It wasn’t long before I fell in love with the book itself. I did stick to not an entry a day and I recommend that anyone who reads this book do the same.

Positives:
- Short daily entries are easy to fit into even the busiest of days
- Well written and very easy to read.
- The “action step” they suggest at the end of every day’s writing is easy and put what you just read into work.
- definitely helped change my life in tiny ways that added up to a big way

Negatives
-absolutely non

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to @booksforwardpr and @blackstonepublishing for my gifted copy of A Mindful Year: 365 Ways to Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life. I have really enjoyed starting my day with each vignette since I received this book, and plan to continue doing so. They’re beautifully written and include wonderful prompts to think about or meditate on.

[Chrystopher’s Archive]

This was a nice little book to dip in and out of, but I found that the almanac-style, one entry a day format really didn't work for me, and I'd find myself setting it aside for multiple days and then coming back and reading a whole bunch at the same time. Maybe this is me and a problem with my mindset. I don't really know. So if you're interested in meditation you should check it out!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's admittedly rare for me to stick with a book that is to be read daily. I always seem to have good intentions but then get out of the habit. I started this book a bit late in the year (March) but got caught up and read the whole thing, usually one entry a day. Some entries spoke to me more than others, but overall I found the book to be inspiring.

[Milica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best self-compassion and mindfulness book I have ever read. This book offers valuable lessons for everyday life - and everyone can get something from it. It invites self-reflection and kindness and love. It is very well written and excellently structured. Instead of paying for expensive sessions with psychologists and therapists, one can get this book and come back to it often.

[Lindasp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been my daily read in 2024 and I've enjoyed the interesting quotes, and personal experiences of the authors. There were quotes from the book over the year which really spoke to me and calmed me. It motivated me to think in different ways about how I was feeling each day. It's a book I would return to in the future on days when I need to reset my mind and feelings.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has provided some food for thought many days during the year, with a small bite of literature in the form of a quote and some related personal anecdote by one of the authors each day. Mostly it offers reminders of what I think of as "the basics," especially the reminder to be grateful for the things we have and for the experiences we live.

[Aisling Van Dam LaBauve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I loved reading this book this year. 2020 was a challenging year, and it was nice to have a book of open minded spirituality to turn to at the start of each day. I will most likely be reading this one again in 2021. Thank you, Seth and Aria!

[Mikki Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daily guidance to being more mindful

I plan to read this again in 2021. I don’t think I fully appreciated the words and actions through 2020 and look forward to applying these daily insights.