Into the Heart of Mindfulness

Book excerpt: Plagued by anxiety and depression for much of his twenties and early thirties, Ed Halliwell frantically searched for ways to understand and relieve his distress. Eventually he stumbled on meditation and Buddhism, and discovered a path that was different from the other medical, psychological and spiritual cures he had grasped for. The way of mindfulness started to transform his life, from a relentless push to achieve pleasure and resist pain, into a willingness to experience each moment as precious, even when it was unpleasant. To his surprise, the more he practised this way of being, the less depressed and anxious he became. A one-time editor for FHM magazine, Ed's life has changed - he now teaches mindfulness to others. In this book he explores how mindfulness can help us see and transform our unhelpful biases and habits; how it can help us be at peace with the pain, stress and uncertainty of life; how it can help us cultivate kindness, empathy, steadfastness and cheerfulness; and how it can help us to find our life's calling. Offering his own experiences as inspiration, Ed emphasises that mindfulness training is a lifelong path and complete way of being rather than just a short course or quick fix. With practical advice and personal warmth, he explores how opening to the mystery of mindfulness, rather than trying to 'get results' from it, seems to be the paradox from which its benefits arise.