Woman's Book of Mindfulness

Sue Patton Thoele is a bestselling author and psychotherapist specializing in practical self-help strategies. After moving to Northern California, she received an MA in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University and helped improve the lives of many patients over the years. Sue later started writing to provide women with pragmatic solutions to rediscover self-acceptance, compassion, and honesty. Her first book, The Courage to Be Yourself, was published in 1996. Today, Sue lives in Colorado with her husband and visits their adult children and grandchildren.Known internationally as an expert on change, M.J. Ryan works as an executive coach to senior executives and entrepreneurs around the world to accelerate business success and personal fulfillment. She combines a practical approach gained as the CEO of a book publishing company with methodologies from neuroscience, positive psychology and asset-focused learning to help clients and readers more easily meet their goals. Her clients include Royal Dutch Shell, Microsoft, Time, the U.S. military, and Aon Hewitt. She's a partner with the Levo League career network and the lead venture coach at SheEO, an organization offering a new funding and support model for female entrepreneurs. She's the founder of Conari Press, creator of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series, and author of many books, including, Habit Changers: 81 Game-Changing Mantras to Mindfully Realize Your Goals.

• Table of ContentsForeword: Do You Know What Your Mind Is Doing?Introduction: An Ongoing QuestPart I: Exploring the BasicsChapter 1: What Is Mindfulness and Why Do We Want It?Part II: The PracticesChapter 2: Cultivating Compassionate AwarenessChapter 3: Being at Home in the MomentChapter 4: Savoring the Qualities of a Quiet MindChapter 5: Accepting What IsChapter 6: Overflowing from an Open HeartChapter 7: Generating Soft PowerChapter 8: Inviting Serenity Through SimplicityChapter 9: Fulfilling the Promise of PresencePart III: Enjoying the BenefitsChapter 10: Why Mindfulness Feels So GoodAcknowledgmentsReferencesAuthor Biography

“The Woman's Book of Mindfulness is a warmhearted tour of many effective ways for a woman to feel more peaceful, focused, and happy in the middle of her busy life. Based on scientific research and its author’s deep insights, it is comprehensive and caring…a wonderful book.”—Rick Hanson, PhD, psychologist and author of Buddha’s Brain, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, and Neurodharma“All of the women in my life will be receiving a copy of The Woman's Book of Mindfulness. I am a forty-year veteran of meditation, and I’ve taught mindfulness professionally for many years. However, mindfulness is an ever-evolving practice and there’s always more to learn. I gained so much from Sue Patton Thoele’s insight. This book is full of soulful information, delivered in the kindest, gentlest, and most supportive way. It’s a must-read for women of all ages.”—Kim Colegrove, author of Mindfulness for Warriors and creator of Pause First Academy“Sue Thoele is the master of explicating real life and real people. In The Woman's Book of Mindfulness, she adds a new dimension: real thinking. Many books preach mindfulness, but this is the only one that makes it so simple that you fall into practicing it as you turn the pages. Thoele has surpassed even her early groundbreaking books tailored to women’s needs. Here is the hallmark of a deeply intuitive writer who presents her message in gentle, nonjudgmental, and attractively intimate prose.”—Hugh Prather, author of Morning Notes, Notes to Myself, and Spiritual Notes to Myself“Sue Patton Thoele is a heart-filled and gifted wordsmith who draws you into an enchanted journey of personal growth in each of her books. The Woman's Book of Mindfulness may well be her crowning glory—and yours—so get ready for a big treat!”—Bobbie Sandoz Merrill, MSW, author of Settle for More, Parachutes for Parents, In the Presence of High Beings, and Compelling Conversations with Dolphins and Whales in the Wild“A wise, witty, and wonderful guide to what eludes us most: peace of mind and heart in a turbulent world.”—Janice Lynne Lundy, DMin, author of Your Truest Self, My Deepest Me, Portable Peace, and Thank You Is My Prayer“The Woman's Book of Mindfulness is a joyful reminder of our inherent capacity to meet the challenges of life with loving awareness. This delightful book invites us to soften into the wisdom of our own heart with kindness, acceptance, and mindfulness. Learning alongside Sue as she deepens into her own practices feels like reconnecting with a dear friend who embodies her wholeness and power. Full of compassionate guidance, clear processes, and engaging stories, this book is perfect for women who are starting their mindfulness practice and those who are already familiar with these essential ways of being.”—Harmony Kwiker, MA, author of Reveal: Embody the True Self Beyond Trauma and Conditioning, psychotherapist, and adjunct professor at Naropa University“What I love most about Sue Patton Thoele’s book is that I’m awash in calm simply from reading it! Her loving language is like a warm bath with eucalyptus bubbles when I’m weary. I bask in her kind, inviting language: ‘savor, accept, enjoy, bless, open.’ Thoele offers novel ways to practice mindfulness that go way beyond our usual ideas of meditation or breathing exercises. She helps us look in new directions to explore gentle and compassionate pathways to quiet our minds and experience more awareness. This book is a sigh of relief, it is a deep breath of cool mountain air, it is a squeeze of lime in sparkling mineral water. This book? It feels like ‘ahhhh.’ Thank you, Sue Thoele, for giving us overwhelmed and overextended folks a much-needed break.”—Sherry Richert Belul, author of Say It Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life“When there is so much to deal with these days, it may seem impossible to live mindfully. But that is what I love about this book. With simple yet powerful ideas, The Woman's Book of Mindfulness shows you that being mindful is not only possible, but essential for a happier, healthier, and more joyous life.”—Allen Klein, author of The Awe Factor“In The Woman's Book of Mindfulness, Sue Thoele provides a clear and easily practiced roadmap for greater peace and happiness in this time of great uncertainty and upheaval in the world. Sue’s wisdom and experience in practicing mindfulness in her life demonstrates that at every moment we have the choice to wake up to the present moment. Thank you, Sue, for this powerful invitation to greater calm, hope, and love in our daily lives.”—Susyn Reeve, author of Heart Healing: The Power of Forgiveness to Heal a Broken Heart“Sue Thoele’s The Woman's Book of Mindfulness is exactly what our hearts (and minds) need now. Part mindfulness guidebook, part positivity manual, Thoele’s gracious work moves beyond the buzzword to offer practical healing methods and real-life examples. She asks us to be gentle with ourselves, and in doing so, gifts us her experience as a roadmap. Do yourself a favor and pick up two gift copies—the first a gift for yourself, and the second a gift for a woman you adore.”—Nita Sweeney, award-winning author of Depression Hates A Moving Target and You Should Be Writing