The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living

by Amit Sood MD, Mayo Clinic

Overview

In this book, Amit Sood, M.D., M.Sc., a Mayo Clinic specialist in stress and resiliency, reveals how the mind's instinctive restlessness and shortsightedness generate stress and anxiety and presents strategies for living a more peaceful life.


Have you ever driven several miles without noticing anything on the road, or read a page in a book without registering any of it? Do the day's worries and disappointments crowd your mind as you're trying to fall asleep at night? Do you feel stressed much of the time and aren't sure how to find peace?


This book is based on the highly popular stress management program offered at Mayo Clinic that Dr. Sood developed after two decades of work with tens of thousands of people. Drawing on groundbreaking brain research, Dr. Sood helps you understand the brain's two modes and how an imbalance between them produces unwanted stress. From this basis, you learn skills that will help you:


Develop deep and sustained attention
Practice gratitude, compassion and acceptance
Live a meaningful life
Cultivate nurturing relationships
Achieve your highest potential


All of these concepts are weaved into a practical and fun journey that has been tested in numerous scientific studies, with consistently positive results. Take the first step to discover greater peace and joy for you and your loved ones.


"Dr. Sood has put together a simple, secular and structured program that is anchored in science, is free of rituals and dogmas, and is accessible to everyone. This book can change your life." -- Dr. Andrew Weil


"An important innovative approach to well-being, one we all should know about." -- Dr. Daniel Goleman

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738217123
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	12/24/2013
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	424,745
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit MayoClinic.com.

Amit Sood, M.D. is Director of Research and Practice in the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program and Associate Professor, Chair of the Mayo Mind-Body Initiative.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Introduction: The Workshop xv

Part 1 The Brain and the Mind

Chapter 1 The Brain: Why Your Mind Wanders 2

Chapter 2 The Mind: Focus and Imperfections 13

Chapter 3 The Anatomy of an Experience 33

Chapter 4 The Stress-Free Living Program 43

Part 2 Attention Training

Chapter 5 Joyful Attention 50

Chapter 6 Integrating Joyful Attention 65

Chapter 7 Kind Attention 79

Part 3 Refining Interpretations

Chapter 8 Integrating Interpretation Skills 90

Part 4 Gratitude

Chapter 9 What Is Gratitude? 100

Chapter 10 Why Practice Gratitude? 103

Chapter 11 How to Practice Gratitude 113

Part 5 Compassion

Chapter 12 What Is Compassion? 122

Chapter 13 Why Practice Compassion? 125

Chapter 14 How to Practice Compassion 133

Part 6 Acceptance

Chapter 15 What Is Acceptance? 148

Chapter 16 Why Practice Acceptance? 155

Chapter 17 How to Practice Acceptance 163

Part 7 Higher Meaning

Chapter 18 What Is Life's Higher Meaning? 176

Chapter 19 Why Search for Life's Higher Meaning? 187

Chapter 20 How to Find Life's Higher Meaning 195

Part 8 Forgiveness

Chapter 21 What Is Forgiveness? 210

Chapter 22 Why Forgive? 215

Chapter 23 How to Forgive 221

Part 9 Tribe

Chapter 24 Your Tribe: Seed and Feed 234

Chapter 25 Your Tribe: Weed 249

Part 10 Relaxation and Reflection

Chapter 26 Relaxation, Meditation and Prayer 262

Conclusion: Self-Actualization 279

Acknowledgments 283

Credits 285

Notes 287

Index 291

Editorial Reviews

"Dr. Sood has put together a simple, secular and structured program that is anchored in science, is free of rituals and dogmas, and is accessible to everyone. This book can change your life."--Dr. Andrew Weil

"An important innovative approach to well-being, one we all should know about."--Dr. Daniel Goleman

Booklist, 1/1/2014

“This practical, can-do guide, written by a positive-energy medical doctor at the Mayo Clinic, offers clear steps to take to decrease the bad kind of stress…Just reading Sood's lucid, commonsensical recommendations is a start to eliminating negative stress.”

Taste for Life, February 2014

“Offers an innovative approach to mindfulness and well-being.”

Chatelaine.com “10 Best Health Books of 2014,” 2/3/14

Spirituality & Practice, 3/1/2014

“Dr. Sood has come up with a rather amazing affirmation of a contented life.”

Taste for Life, May 2014
“Dr. Sood offers simple solutions to relieving stress in our day-to-day problems…This 10-part guide can help readers find peace and achieve their goals toward creating a healthier and happier life.”

From the Publisher