mallorywynne's review
5.0
This book was so insightful. It helped me slow down and think about how to be more present. I actually really enjoyed listening to the audiobook because it felt like a meditation itself. I will definitely be buying this for my future home!
mychaelann's review
5.0
This book was a fantastic marriage of the language and practices of mindfulness with the languages and practices of my faith. They gave voice to this integration that has brought an added richness to my life. I also appreciated the practical applications demonstrated throughout the book with relatable scenarios. I recommend for everyone - those new to mindfulness practices and those more experienced.
real_life_reading's review
5.0
This book is full of gems. I have been studying mindfulness for several years and this book spoke to my heart in ways no other has. I absolutely loved how the authors helped me understand how stillness can bring me closer to God, bring more fulfillment in my spiritual practices, and improve my relationships, including with myself. I'm pretty sure this book will just remain on my nightstand so I can constantly refer back to it over and over. I want everyone I know to have this book.
bethgiven's review
5.0
"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." -D&C 123:17
For every Latter-day Saint who has felt overwhelmed at all the good things they need to get done -- prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, serving in their calling, ministering, etc. -- this book offers an approach to gospel living using the principles of mindfulness and meditation. I read an excerpt of this book in an LDS Living article ("Avoiding Spiritual Burnout: Slowing Down and Finding Personal Serenity") and I loved the principles in it: that our worship should be seen as opportunities to pause and find rest in the Lord, not as an item in our to-do list to check off.
I really loved the chapter on prayer. If you've tried meditating before, you know that when you find your mind wandering, you're supposed to refocus on the breath without judgment. We can do the same thing in prayer: "if the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence" (p. 48). We should expect that our mind and heart will wander, and instead of shamefully berating ourselves about it and quickly closing our prayer so that we're not tempted to let our minds wander again, we should just practice bringing our attention back to God. With every prayer, we learn to "re-tie" ourselves back to God (p. 50).
There is also a lot of this book that talks about learning to tolerate discomfort and conflict. We're asked to do this a lot in religion (fasting, for example), but often we don't see it that way because we think religion is always supposed to bring us happiness. But these authors argue that some pain is normal and we should allow it to be: "do not try to settle the dust. Do not rush to resolve the inner conflict. Do not seek a glib, quick answer, but leave all things for awhile in the silent space" (p. 69).
The second half of the book turns its focus from the self to focus on relationships. There are chapters on improving relationships with those in our congregations, with our spouse, and with our children. Admittedly this piece didn't resonate with me quite as strongly, though I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it's just that I need a lot of practice in this area? I almost never lash out in my relationships but often bury my hurt, causing resentment, in an effort to be tolerant. I think I just need more practice on sitting with discomfort, maybe.
At any rate, this book -- particularly the beginning chapters -- is so fantastic that I'm happily recommending it to all my friends.
A few more quotes/notes:
"There are moments in our lives when we are confronted with a cacophony of noise and demanding voices. For contemporary Saints, it's no longer a literal mob scene demanding our attention, although intensifying schedules and busyness can start to feel like one." (p. 2)
We have become human doers instead of human beings. (p. 15)
"Consider experiences like church and temple attendance, partaking of the sacrament, and prayer as opportunities to stop doing." (p. 23)
"There's a power in regular, even ritualistic observance -- yielding to a set way of going through something that creates a rhythm and muscle memory. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has pointed out, the word 'religion' comes from the Latin word 'religare,' meaning 'to tie' or, more literally, 'to re-tie.' We might think of each prayer offered potentially tying and binding us closer to God." (p. 50)
"Do not try to settle the dust. Do not rush to resolve the innter conflict. Do not seek a glib, quick answer, but leave all things for awhile in the silent space." (p. 69) (Richard Rohr)
God is with us now, if we let Him abide with us. "For Saints, God is the Great I Am, not only the Great I Was or Will Be -- a God who lives with us in the here and now." (p. 103)
"Mindfulness for Latter-day Saints is not simply about stillness or quieting down for the sake of being still, even being still for the sake of knowing God, though these are certainly part of it. It's also about slowing down and being still so we can be present with ourselves and with each other -- to experience a deeper kind of intimacy with one another -- to really see and know one another." (p. 111)
"We experience intamacy, or 'into me see,' when we let others see our innermost selves ... and when we allow ourselves to fully see and know others. (p. 112)
"Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable." (p. 113) (David W. Angsburger)
"To be loved and not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." (p. 114) (Timothy Keller)
"In the ward, there must be difficult people. These difficult people are a good thing for you -- they will test your capacity to build Zion and practice Christlike love." (p. 117) (adapted from Thich Nhat Hanh)
Regarding self-improvement and the quest for discipleship:
"Rather than trying to become something completely different than we ever have been previously, this is about a radical restoration to who we really are as literal children of Heavenly Parents." (p. 125)
Tips for marriage:
-beware of "shoulds" and expectations
-give spouse space to be a human being
-let mindfulness include spouse (it doesn't have to be solo)
-be a good spouse because you promised
-there are many "perpetual," unsolvable problems in marriage; learn how to "hold marital tension" by diluting it (like the vial of poison in the freshwater lake)
Tips for parenting:
-build in times for stillness
-be present and not distracted by devices
-seek small pockets of rest
-understand that it's okay for kids to be bored/mad/hungry/etc.; they are learning to tolerate discomfort within the safety of their family
-When we do things that are hard (e.g., family scripture study), the process of starting, restarting, and restating again can be a valuable teaching tool
-Look at noise and distraction of family life as part of our mindfulness practice
-Quiet time not as punishment but something desired and necessary
"As we look out at a world increasingly in commotion, we who identify as Saints feel a natural urgency to tend to the needs of others. And so, we rightfully roll up our sleeves and get to work -- seeking ways to comfort hearts, life heads, and serve others as we share the hope of the gospel. As part of that hope, and part of that joy, we would encourage Saints as a community to also share this mindful dimension of what the scriptures call the 'rest of the Lord.' (Alma 13:16)." (p. 196)
"In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)
For every Latter-day Saint who has felt overwhelmed at all the good things they need to get done -- prayer, scripture study, temple attendance, serving in their calling, ministering, etc. -- this book offers an approach to gospel living using the principles of mindfulness and meditation. I read an excerpt of this book in an LDS Living article ("Avoiding Spiritual Burnout: Slowing Down and Finding Personal Serenity") and I loved the principles in it: that our worship should be seen as opportunities to pause and find rest in the Lord, not as an item in our to-do list to check off.
I really loved the chapter on prayer. If you've tried meditating before, you know that when you find your mind wandering, you're supposed to refocus on the breath without judgment. We can do the same thing in prayer: "if the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence" (p. 48). We should expect that our mind and heart will wander, and instead of shamefully berating ourselves about it and quickly closing our prayer so that we're not tempted to let our minds wander again, we should just practice bringing our attention back to God. With every prayer, we learn to "re-tie" ourselves back to God (p. 50).
There is also a lot of this book that talks about learning to tolerate discomfort and conflict. We're asked to do this a lot in religion (fasting, for example), but often we don't see it that way because we think religion is always supposed to bring us happiness. But these authors argue that some pain is normal and we should allow it to be: "do not try to settle the dust. Do not rush to resolve the inner conflict. Do not seek a glib, quick answer, but leave all things for awhile in the silent space" (p. 69).
The second half of the book turns its focus from the self to focus on relationships. There are chapters on improving relationships with those in our congregations, with our spouse, and with our children. Admittedly this piece didn't resonate with me quite as strongly, though I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe it's just that I need a lot of practice in this area? I almost never lash out in my relationships but often bury my hurt, causing resentment, in an effort to be tolerant. I think I just need more practice on sitting with discomfort, maybe.
At any rate, this book -- particularly the beginning chapters -- is so fantastic that I'm happily recommending it to all my friends.
A few more quotes/notes:
"There are moments in our lives when we are confronted with a cacophony of noise and demanding voices. For contemporary Saints, it's no longer a literal mob scene demanding our attention, although intensifying schedules and busyness can start to feel like one." (p. 2)
We have become human doers instead of human beings. (p. 15)
"Consider experiences like church and temple attendance, partaking of the sacrament, and prayer as opportunities to stop doing." (p. 23)
"There's a power in regular, even ritualistic observance -- yielding to a set way of going through something that creates a rhythm and muscle memory. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has pointed out, the word 'religion' comes from the Latin word 'religare,' meaning 'to tie' or, more literally, 'to re-tie.' We might think of each prayer offered potentially tying and binding us closer to God." (p. 50)
"Do not try to settle the dust. Do not rush to resolve the innter conflict. Do not seek a glib, quick answer, but leave all things for awhile in the silent space." (p. 69) (Richard Rohr)
God is with us now, if we let Him abide with us. "For Saints, God is the Great I Am, not only the Great I Was or Will Be -- a God who lives with us in the here and now." (p. 103)
"Mindfulness for Latter-day Saints is not simply about stillness or quieting down for the sake of being still, even being still for the sake of knowing God, though these are certainly part of it. It's also about slowing down and being still so we can be present with ourselves and with each other -- to experience a deeper kind of intimacy with one another -- to really see and know one another." (p. 111)
"We experience intamacy, or 'into me see,' when we let others see our innermost selves ... and when we allow ourselves to fully see and know others. (p. 112)
"Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable." (p. 113) (David W. Angsburger)
"To be loved and not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." (p. 114) (Timothy Keller)
"In the ward, there must be difficult people. These difficult people are a good thing for you -- they will test your capacity to build Zion and practice Christlike love." (p. 117) (adapted from Thich Nhat Hanh)
Regarding self-improvement and the quest for discipleship:
"Rather than trying to become something completely different than we ever have been previously, this is about a radical restoration to who we really are as literal children of Heavenly Parents." (p. 125)
Tips for marriage:
-beware of "shoulds" and expectations
-give spouse space to be a human being
-let mindfulness include spouse (it doesn't have to be solo)
-be a good spouse because you promised
-there are many "perpetual," unsolvable problems in marriage; learn how to "hold marital tension" by diluting it (like the vial of poison in the freshwater lake)
Tips for parenting:
-build in times for stillness
-be present and not distracted by devices
-seek small pockets of rest
-understand that it's okay for kids to be bored/mad/hungry/etc.; they are learning to tolerate discomfort within the safety of their family
-When we do things that are hard (e.g., family scripture study), the process of starting, restarting, and restating again can be a valuable teaching tool
-Look at noise and distraction of family life as part of our mindfulness practice
-Quiet time not as punishment but something desired and necessary
"As we look out at a world increasingly in commotion, we who identify as Saints feel a natural urgency to tend to the needs of others. And so, we rightfully roll up our sleeves and get to work -- seeking ways to comfort hearts, life heads, and serve others as we share the hope of the gospel. As part of that hope, and part of that joy, we would encourage Saints as a community to also share this mindful dimension of what the scriptures call the 'rest of the Lord.' (Alma 13:16)." (p. 196)
"In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)
summerbeecher's review
5.0
As I have been on a journey for the past year to learn about and practice mindfulness, this has been particularly helpful to tie in religious truths and personal worship and prayer. I listened to this in audiobook form, but we also have the book and I anticipate returning to specific chapters on an as-needed basis throughout the year. I appreciated the conceptual teaching of mindfulness and concrete examples of practical application. The chapter on prayer significantly altered how I approach this sacred opportunity to commune with Heavenly Father and was a wonderful blessing to me personally this year.
nelsonmaam's review
5.0
A fantastic book! I have and will continue to recommend it to anyone. I listened to it, which I really enjoyed, but I am going to buy the book because it is so rich of truths that I want to refer to again and again.
stoddawg's review
4.0
This is a beautiful book that honestly has rekindled a desire within my grumpy and jaded heart to look at the gospel in a completely different manner. It uncovers some of the most beautiful teachings of Christ stripping away the crust of judgmental culture and attitudes. This book most of all gave me hope.
alissabar's review
4.0
I love mindfulness and the peace it can bring into life. Reading this book has helped me think a little differently about things I already do within my religion and helped me see how to add mindfulness into it. Sad that I missed the book club discussion about it. I bet that was very interesting!
cah242's review
5.0
This is probably the most important book I’ve read in 2020. The authors combine the traditional teachings of the church with knowledge and insight from both religious and secular mindfulness practices, taking well-known (and sometimes frustrating) aspects of the church’s culture and looking at them from a new angle. Absolutely fantastic; both practical and spiritual.