Calming The Fearful Mind

In a time of terrorism and uncertainty, how can any of us feel truly safe? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh looks at the real roots of terrorism and fear and offers the way out: a path of compassion and open-heartedness. In this unique book, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that we will only be safe when we acknowledge our real enemies, not other human beings, but our own ignorance, discrimination, fear, craving, and violence. With clarity and gentleness, Nhat Hanh offers step-by-step instructions for calming the mind and looking deeply into our own misperceptions. His own generosity of spirit and love for all beings models a path out of uncertainty and towards peace. By calming our minds and looking deeply into our hearts, will we have the insight to identify the roots of terrorism. Only with the practice of compassion, deep listening, and mindful communication can terrorism be transformed and uprooted. Calming the Fearful Mind offers key teachings designed to help heal the misunderstanding, fear, and hatred that divide us as individuals, groups, and nations. An invaluable book for anyone who has wondered how to deal with anger and the desire for retaliation. Calming the Fearful Mind is, ultimately, a book about finding peace. It takes Thich Nhat Hanh’s signature mindfulness practices and reveals how they can help us address our most challenging and most deeply rooted fears.

In a time of terrorism and uncertainty, how can any of us feel truly safe? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh looks at the real roots of terrorism and fear and offers the way out: a path of compassion and open-heartedness. In this unique book, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that we will only be safe when we acknowledge our real enemies, not other human beings, but our own ignorance, discrimination, fear, craving, and violence. With clarity and gentleness, Nhat Hanh offers step-by-step instructions for calming the mind and looking deeply into our own misperceptions. His own generosity of spirit and love for all beings models a path out of uncertainty and towards peace. By calming our minds and looking deeply into our hearts, will we have the insight to identify the roots of terrorism. Only with the practice of compassion, deep listening, and mindful communication can terrorism be transformed and uprooted. Calming the Fearful Mind offers key teachings designed to help heal the misunderstanding, fear, and hatred that divide us as individuals, groups, and nations. An invaluable book for anyone who has wondered how to deal with anger and the desire for retaliation. Calming the Fearful Mind is, ultimately, a book about finding peace. It takes Thich Nhat Hanh’s signature mindfulness practices and reveals how they can help us address our most challenging and most deeply rooted fears.

Thich Nhat Hanh explains how to find true safety in an age of terror. With simple insight, he illustrates how we can transform and uproot terrorism through the practices of compassion, deep listening, and mindful communication. This book offers key teachings to heal the misunderstandings that divide us. With his signature empathy and insight, Nh...

Drawing on techniques and perspectives from two seemingly different traditions, this second edition of the self-help classic Calming Your Anxious Mind offers you a powerful and profound approach to overcoming anxiety, fear, and panic. From the evidence-based tradition of Western medicine, learn the role your thoughts and emotions play in anxiety. And, from the tradition of meditation and the inquiry into meaning and purpose, discover your own potential for presence and stillness, kindness and compassion-and the tremendous power these states give you to heal and transform your life. Use this encouraging, step-by-step program to: Learn about the mechanism of anxiety and the body's fear system Develop a healing mindfulness practice-one breath at a time Start on the path to presence, stillness, compassion, and loving kindness Practice acceptance during mindfulness meditation Feel safe while opening up to fearful and anxious feelings This book is a welcome addition to the anxiety disorders field. Comprehensive as well as clearly written, it provides a wealth of information on the use of meditation and mindfulness practice in recover from anxiety difficulties.-Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D., author of The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook and Coping with Anxiety Dr. Brantley's book is clear and warm. It takes the mystery out of meditation and explains how things that at first sight appear 'ordinary' are in fact very important. His extensive clinical experience and his empathy constantly shine through the book.-Jonathan Davidson, MD, director of the Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program at Duke University I think the book is fantastic and believe it will fill an important niche in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The information on the physiology of anxiety and the stress response helps to demystify the symptoms for readers, making their problem seem more manageable. Beautifully guided meditations anticipate and address the questions that anxious new meditators will have. The instructions to stay present with the anxiety is powerful and healing. I know I will be recommending it to my patients and colleagues. Holly B. Rogers, MD, staff psychiatrist with Duke University Counseling and Psychological Services As a psychotherapist and teacher of stress reduction, I find this book helpful to clients and clinicians, as well as to meditators wishing to deepen their own practice. Brantley gives practical and compassionate guidance to anyone seeking skillful ways to work with anxiety and panic.

Fear is a universal emotion and is typically depicted as a despicable one. While fear is regarded as nature's imperfect wisdom, often undesirable, and a sign of weakness, its role in maintaining human life is overlooked. In the middle of ubiquitous repulsion against fear, there is minuscule literature on the beneficial effects of fear and the consequences of fearlessness. Recent research has thrown light into the unconscious processing of fear. In sharp contrast to the existing literature, this book argues that fear, overriding all other emotions, operates relentlessly in the unconscious mind as a motivating force and renders life compatible with survival. Fear appeals can bring healthy behavioral changes; the stronger the appeal, the more persuasive it is. Moderate anxiety can improve performance that involves dominant responses. Social anxiety is regarded as the root cause of conscientiousness. This hypothesis is supported by the latest research that reveals impaired fear processing in patients with psychopathy, a condition that is associated with crimes. This book expands the concept of eustress, a positive reaction to stress, and describes the beneficial aspects of fear. The book gives a twist to the conventional view of fear as an unwanted emotion and draws a new hypothesis that fear is the primary emotion and a constant psychological operative, a lack of which poses dangerous consequences.