Have you ever tried to cultivate a mindfulness practice?
If you’re completely new to mindfulness, you might not even be sure what that looks like! (Or what mindfulness is). In short: mindfulness is a mind exercise that challenges your brain to stay rooted in the present moment.
Just like moving our bodies regularly can be an act of self-care, mindfulness is self-care for your brain.
Practicing mindfulness regularly can help improve your ability to focus. It can help with managing stress and anxiety by moving your focus off of future worries and toward the present moment. Mindfulness can also give you the tools to be a better listener and communicator.
It can sound overwhelming if you have never tried mindfulness before. To help you ease into it (and to go along with our post on tips to help you get started with mindfulness), we’ve put together this list of 7 books to help you along your journey, no matter what stage you’re at!
For the reader who is completely new to mindfulness:
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
This is likely one of the first books anyone will recommend to someone starting out on their mindfulness journey.
“Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness–being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana
This book covers not only the spirituality and theory behind mindfulness and meditation, but gives practical tips and can work as a handbook for anyone just starting out on their mindfulness journey.
“Mindfulness in Plain English is a must-have for anyone exploring the benefits of Buddhist meditation. This expanded edition includes the complete text of its predecessor along with a new chapter on cultivating loving kindness, an especially important topic in today’s world. For anyone who is new to meditation, this is a great resource for learning how to live a more productive and peaceful life.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe
Only have 10 minutes a day for mindfulness? No problem! This book is about giving you real, accessible tools for even the busiest schedule.
“Like his readers and students, Andy began his own meditation practice as a normal, busy person with everyday concerns, and he has since designed a program of mindfulness and guided meditation that fits neatly into a jam-packed daily routine–proving that just 10 minutes a day can make a world of difference.
Accessible and portable, The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness offers simple but powerful meditation techniques that positively impact every area of physical and mental health…Andy brings this ancient practice into the modern world, tailor made for the most time starved among us.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
For the reader who is trying to improve their mindfulness practice:
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide by Kathleen McDonald
If you’re looking to challenge your practice beyond casual moments of mindfulness throughout your day, meditation is a great way to bring that practice to the next level. Then the question becomes, how does one meditate? That’s what Kathleen McDonald covers in this book.
“Written by a Western Buddhist nun with solid experience in both the practice and teaching of meditation, How to Meditate contains a wealth of practical advice on a variety of authentic techniques, from what to do with our minds, to how to sit, to visualizations and other traditional practices. Best of all, McDonald’s approach is warm and encouraging. The next best thing to personal instruction!”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
Why Can’t I Meditate? by Nigel Wellings
If you’re having trouble with making your meditation practice work, this is the book for you. The goal of this book is to help you unlock whatever it is blocking you from accessing your meditation practice, and giving you the tools you need to make it a permanent practice in your life.
“Full of practical ways to help our mindfulness practice flourish, it also features guidance from a wide spectrum of secular and Buddhist mindfulness teachers, and personal accounts by new meditators on what they find difficult and what helps them overcome those blocks. It takes what is boring, painful, or downright scary about meditating and shows how these struggles can become an invaluable part of our path. If you have been considering meditating but doubted your ability, if you are having a hard time continuing, or if you’ve reluctantly stopped, Why Can’t I Meditate? will help you get your mindfulness practice back on track.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
For the reader looking to build an advanced mindfulness practice:
The Mind Illuminated by John Yates
This book is great for anyone with an established meditation practice, who is looking to learn more about the science behind the practice.
“This groundbreaking manual provides illustrations and charts to help you work through each stage of the process, offering tools that work across all types of meditation practices. The Mind Illuminated is an essential read, whether you are a beginner wanting to establish your practice or a seasoned veteran ready to master the deepest state of peace and mindfulness.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
Meditation in Action by Chogyam Trungpa
This book is perfect for anyone looking to expand their meditation practice to all areas of their lives! If you’re ready to level up from a few moments of mindfulness a day, to mindfulness all day long, this is the book for you.
“Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life….He explores the six activities associated with meditation in action–generosity, discipline, patience, energy, clarity, and wisdom–revealing that through simple, direct experience, one can attain real wisdom: the ability to see clearly into situations and deal with them skillfully, without the self-consciousness connected with ego.”
Find it at a local bookstore here.
Remember, mindfulness can be a life-changing practice, but it does take practice to get there! Be kind and gentle with yourself while you’re learning – mindfulness is tougher than it seems. Try to find an approach that works for you and makes you feel good.
Pivotal Counseling Center has therapists who can help you work through stress and anxiety. We have locations in Woodstock, Illinois, and Lake in the Hills, Illinois. If you are in need of someone to help, please consider giving us a call at (815) 345-3400.
