3 Mindfulness Books to Help You Through Stressful Times

If you’re feeling stressed and anxious, you’re not alone. In these stressful times, it’s important to tend to your mental health and wellbeing. A great way to do that is to cultivate a mindfulness practice.

Not sure what a mindfulness practice is or how to do it? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. The mindfulness books below are a great place to start; each with practical advice and exercises to get you going.
 

The Benefits of Using Mindfulness During Stressful Times

Before jumping into the mindfulness books, let’s have a quick chat about what mindfulness is and how it can help in stressful times.

Mindfulness is defined as “the quality or state of being conscious or aware, a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”
 

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations.

 
Studies have even shown that practices like meditation can reduce the negative aspects of psychological stress.

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So how do we get from stressed out and anxious to mindful and at peace? Grab one of these books to find out.
 
 

Top 3 Mindfulness Books to Read in Stressful Times:

1. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, who founded a Buddhist community and meditation center in France, where he currently resides.

In his book, The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses the idea of staying present as a way to fight off stress and anxiety. By staying connected to the present moment, every action can be a mindful action: walking, eating, doing dishes.

When we find ourselves drifting away, whether thinking about what has happened in the past or stressing about something in the future, we can use the breath to come back to the present moment.

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“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

In his book, he walks the reader through a few specific useful meditation techniques for beginners. Understanding that the practice of mindfulness takes discipline, Thich Nhat Hanh suggests taking one day a week to focus specifically on mindfulness.

He also encourages us to remember everything is connected and to meditate on the interconnectedness of everything when you’re feeling alone or overly focused on self.
 

2. Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking

Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking is written by Wall Street Journal bestselling authors S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport.

If you consider yourself to be a worrier, over-thinker or often find yourself mentally overwhelmed, this book is for you. The idea is that our minds become incredibly cluttered with the worries, stresses, and anxieties of life. We get carried away in our fast paced lives and feel as if we have no control over our own thoughts.

“We often feel like we don’t have time to declutter because we’re too busy consuming new stuff and information. But at some point, all this busyness is leading us to mental and emotional exhaustion.” – Scott & Davenport

To help you declutter your mind and regain the ability to focus on your passions, priorities and values, the authors outline specific mindfulness techniques like meditation and breathing exercises.

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You will learn how to identify the things that trigger negative thinking and replace them with a more positive thought process. This work helps you to be clear minded, focused, at peace, and live a more fulfilling life.
 

3. In Courage: A Daily Practice for Self-Discovery

If you’re looking for an interactive practice with a self-love angle, Alexandra Elle has just the thing. In her book, In Courage: A Daily Practice for Self-Discovery, she provides a journal style workbook that encourages the use of intentions and mantras to help you stay focused as you go throughout your day.

“Peace is not always easy to grasp or keep close. In the process of attaining and protecting it, you may find yourself tired, weary, and uncertain on how to keep your peace safe. While being uncertain is normal, continue to commit yourself to peacefulness.

You are worthy of every drop of sweetness and ease that you encounter. Being tested is a part of the journey. Giving up, and letting go, is not.” – Elle

This book includes morning and evening journal prompts to help you cultivate a practice of self-care and mindfulness, and to gain clarity. There are also creative writing prompts to help you process emotions, including stress and anxiety, along with many other wellness exercises like gratitude and affirmations.
 
 

Turn to These Mindfulness Books In Stressful Times

If you’re stressed out and anxious right now, it’s understandable. It’s easy to feel helpless with so much going on, but there is one way to help yourself process and manage through these times.

Grab one or all of these mindfulness books and start cultivating your own mindfulness practice today.

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