Most of us these days hardly have enough time to stop and smell the roses, but it's important that you do take the time to breathe and become aware of yourself and your surroundings - in a word, becoming mindful. Who are we kidding, you say? Well, there's a wonderful new book
The Mindful Woman by Sue Patton Thoele that speaks to the busy woman in all of us, who craves a little calm and peace of mind.
With 65 exercises or practices as the author calls them, they can be done almost anywhere, sitting in front of the computer, riding the bus or in a stolen moment away from the chaos of life, and it promises to take you to a place of calmness.
These simple meditations, most of which start with breathing properly, are little mantras that remind you be in the moment - to be present. The practices encourage positve thinking, where you pay attention to negative thought patterns and throughout the day reaffirm positive thoughts. It's like taking a time out from whatever you have going on to get you to a place of mindful presence.
It's about letting go of self-defeating anchors in your life by paying attention to feelings of anger, judgement, being over-whelmed,etc, - purging them from your mind and clearing the way for thoughts and habits that bring about a more balanced you. There are many benefits to mindfulness. Just like a get-away to the spa or retreat can rejuvenate your mind and spirit, think of this as a mini-retreat to clear the cobwebs and re-energize yourself, no matter where you are. The author says that mindfulness calms your spirit, quiets your mind, helps you to inhabit your life and live it more fully. It also relaxes the body and brings harmony and balance and opens your heart. And who doesn't need that?
Like most women, I find myself juggling work, family-time, trying to keep my other ventures going and trying to find some me-time. Things can begin to blur together and that's when I know that I am out of balance. Lately, I've been reaching for
The Mindful Woman, and just reading a few passages here and there gives me a calm feeling.
Although there are parts that are a bit new-agey (to me), the book concentrates on the things the average woman regularly deals with, so those parts didn't alter my enjoyment of
The Mindful Woman. In fact, it's become my favorite new book. Small enough to tuck into my bag and take out anywhere. So if you're anything like I am - always looking for serenity and a more simplified way of living - then the words in this book will speak to your heart and mind.
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