Mindfulness

It is symptomatic that publishers are bring out their own guides to mindfulness so that I am reviewing two in a single issue. Tessa Watt did her training in the centre where Sarah Silverton works and has been part of the Parliamentary group on mindfulness that recently published a significant report. Needless to say, there is an overlap in the contents between the two books, which are both well written and set out. The emphasis of this book is less clinical and chapters are single words such as space, breath, body, attitude, reacting, and sensations. Exercises and personal reflections are built into the text such as the simple act of really tasting a couple of raisins. The author emphasises the importance of being the moment non-judgementally and accepting of feelings as they are. Both books encouraging readers to slow down and create pauses in our frenetic activities as well as in our thoughts. I liked the idea of listing nourishing and depleting activities and seeing how one can re-prioritise one's life. On balance, I would recommend this book is an introductory text and the other one for those with a more clinical slant.