Resources on Mindfulness

"Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing" (excerpt from the Plum Village website). Mindfulness is a practice that can be cultivated to help anxiety, depression, and trauma (and lots of other things!), .I recommend checking out the website for Plum Village, including the mindfulness practices listed on linked page. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk who Martin Luther King, Jr., called "an apostle of peace and nonviolence" and is the founder of Plum Village and the author of many books. His philosophy is simple--be present, aware, and cultivate joy in even the small, mundane daily activities such as taking a walk or washing the dishes. Our 21st century lifestyle is so fast-paced and ever-changing that we are always trying to keep up, whether it is to make enough money to pay the bills, take care of our kids (and worry about our kids--and our own--safety!), have the newest technology, and deal with the current political climate, manage social media, etc etc. There is more pressure to succeed and survive in this world than ever, which then can lend itself to anxiety and depression. Mindfulness is a way slow the mind and body down and return to a sense of calm and a sense of our true selves. 

Peace is Every Step by Thich That Hanh. This is only one of his many powerful books. Anything by him is recommended. There are many choices both on Amazon and on his website mentioned above.

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. More every day mediations and mindfulness exercises, written by the father of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. 

Books for Anxiety

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. This book puts into perspective the negative chatter of our inner dialogues and helps show readers how to focus on the present and stay calm.

Master of Your Anxiety and Panic. This is a workbook that can be used in conjunction with therapy as a step-by-step process to overcome anxiety and panic disorder.