Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan

This mother-daughter navigational handbook is a unique resource in drawing on personal and professional experiences – including those of the authors – cutting-edge scientific research and a wealth of practical exercises. The authors' own accounts of their challenges and development are frank and illuminating, and they will surely resonate with readers' experiences – for example in relation to high achievement and low self-esteem due to lack of parental affirmation. The 12 chapters cover self-worth, self-esteem and self-efficacy, coping with unfairness, the importance of positive attitudes and beliefs, effective communication, interpersonal mindfulness, goal setting, problem-solving, the need for resilience in adversity, emotional regulation, coping with pain, cultivating happiness, and facing death with equanimity.

The authors have certainly achieved their goal of writing an accessible and helpful guide to the challenges of life from early development to old age. The chapters are structured to provide an introduction and overview of the topic, including relevant research literature, then practical and effective strategies and exercises to help the reader, based on what has worked for them and other professionals. Readers are able to dig more deeply into immediately relevant sections, while some issues such as the need to cultivate self-compassion are universal – this is one instance where the authors relate their own journeys and recommend a loving-kindness meditation. Sometimes, they make specific recommendations for helping young people, which may also involve role-modelling. Kim shares a revealing anecdote from her early professional life when she and her husband were returning late after long hours, and he would go into masculine problem-solving mode when all she needed was sympathetic listening and support. This comprehensive, practical and empathetic guide can be warmly recommended to general readers, but especially to those working in therapy and healing.