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Excerpt from The Mindful Woman by Sue Patton Thoele
Introduction: An Ongoing Adventure
I am so excited to be writing The Mindful Woman. It's a blessing to have the opportunity to explore what a majority of us
yearn for in our heart of hearts but easily lose sight of amid the whirl of everyday life. And that is: Women want peace
of mind, open hearts and an enduring sense of balance and purpose. We want to dispel fear with gratitude and joy. And we
want to love ourselves as deeply and unselfishly as we do others. We want to matter and feel fulfilled.
Can learning to live mindfully grant us all those desires? I don't know, but I do know I feel a lot more peaceful, open-hearted
and well-balanced since discovering the promise and practice of mindfulness. Although I'm sure age and circumstances are factors
in my softening toward myself and life in general, I'm continually amazed by the fun and joy that accompanies mindfulness....
when I remember to do it.
While I'm not an expert on mindfulness by any stretch of the imagination, I am passionately committed to increasing mindfulness
in both my inner and outer journeys. I leaped at the chance to write this book because one of the best ways to learn something
at a deep and enduring level is to teach it. However, in the process of trying to practice what I write, I'm alternately appalled
and amused by just how elusive mindfulness can be, how incredibly easy it is for me to be seduced away from simplicity and focused
awareness into multi-multi-tasking and rampant mind-mucking.
Consciously living in the moment is at the core of mindfulness practices. Being mindful is being truly alive. Mindfulness allows
you to be fully present to your authentic self and to live your life with acute awareness and an open heart. Does this mean you
may experience pain more deeply? Possibly. Will mindfulness bring you more joy and serenity? Yes, I've found that to be true.
Is it worth the effort? For me, absolutely. Because you are reading this, my bet is you already have tasted the depth, meaning,
and magic of mindful living and would love to experience more of it in your busy life.
The Mindful Woman can be used in a variety of ways—as a meditation guide, a daily friend and reminder, or the answer to a specific
question. Part 1 explores the basics of mindfulness and outlines many ways in which it enriches your life. Part 2 consists of
stories, how-to's, and practices designed to help you restore calm, find balance, and open your heart by becoming more adept at
mindfulness. Part 3 is a summation and celebration of the benefits to be enjoyed through mindful living.
Each of us has the ability to nurture mindfulness in her own unique way. The peace of mind and heart gained from a mindful attitude
is well worth the commitment. Mindfulness helps us love ourselves more gently and completely. Wrapped in the comfort and security
of self-love, our hearts naturally open and love flows more freely to others. And love is the essence of all that matters.
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