Jaclyn’s Review: A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan

A Mindful Year: 365 Ways to Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life
written by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
published by Blackstone Publishing, 2020

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Target, Walmart, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book? I loved this book!!! Admittedly, mindfulness is a hot topic for me right now and something I am trying hard to work on. I loved the structure of this book. This is set up as 365 short reads (3-4 paragraphs) on a specific topic and then a call to action. You are to read one page per day and work on that specific action for that day. It is set up just like a devotional or a daily journal, just no writing. I expected that there would be 1 or 2 days that really hit home for me, followed by a bunch of readings that I’d be completely indifferent to. Every single daily reading was incredibly impactful–there wasn’t a single day that I couldn’t adopt or practice or appreciate the insight. This book was practical and meaningful.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. This book was easy to read, easy to apply, easy to see an impact immediately. Furthermore, you could absolutely reread this book every year. These lessons never become redundant and would be welcome over and over again.
 

 

About the book – from Goodreads:From two experts on the psychology of behavior change comes A Mindful Year, the first book of its kind to join the age-old wisdom of mindfulness with cognitive behavioral science—the best-tested set of practices for alleviating stress and anxiety.

At a time when there have never been more ways to connect with one another, it has also never been easier to lose track of the people and passions we hold most dear. The demands of the day can leave us feeling exhausted and uninspired, while alerts and notifications constantly tug at our attention. We fall into unhealthy patterns that can be all too difficult to break.

Written from friend to friend, one day at a time, A Mindful Year invites you to start a new pattern—one that begins with taking just a few quiet moments to reconnect with what is most important, each day. As practical as it is inspirational, A Mindful Year marries moments of mindful reflection with calls to action—daily nuggets of wisdom paired with friendly encouragement to live in a way that is grounded, authentic, and compassionate.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the flood of everyday life, to become disconnected from the things that really make us us—to get lost. Thankfully, simply being open and attentive to the present moment can help us find a sense of space and ease and get back on the right track. With A Mindful Year as your guide, reconnect with what matters most.

 

About the Authors

Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh, DClinPsy, CPsychol, is a doctor in clinical psychology and an expert in the fields of behavior change and long-term health (dr-aria.com). A mindfulness specialist and creator of the FIT Method, he works internationally with clients on their mindset, exercise, and nutrition. He is regularly featured in popular lifestyle publications such as Men’s Health, Women’s Health and Marie Claire. Dr. Aria is an Associate Fellow with the British Psychological Society and Senior Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Seth J. Gillihan, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania. He divides his professional time between psychotherapy practice, writing books and blog posts, and hosting conversations on living more fully for the Think Act Be podcast. His previous books include The CBT Deck; The CBT Deck for Anxiety, Rumination, & Worry; Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple. Dr. Gillihan specializes in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, depression, and related conditions. He lives outside of Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and three children.

 

 
 

* This post contains affiliate links.

** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on September 14, 2020.