Happy New Year! From cutting back on social media to getting more sleep, most of us are kicking off our 2020 with a variety of resolutions – each attempting to bring about a positive change in ourselves. But with resolutions come the pressure to stick to them and make the ‘positive change’ visible as soon as possible into the year. With new goals and new changes, it can be difficult finding the routine that works for you. The stress of our usual hectic lives, especially after Christmas, can take their toll and make it tough for us to meet our newly set goals. But don’t worry – we know some books that can help you find inspiration to make this year the best year yet! The art of mindfulness can help you to open your mind and de-stress from the hustle and bustle of life. Take a look at our top picks for the season of change!
Mindful Meditations for Every Day
by Sr Stan
Sometimes the stress of daily life can become overwhelming and it can be difficult to take a step back and breathe. By learning how to focus and be mindful of simple things such as the breath or the senses, readers can discover how to relax and simply be in the present moment.
This little gem of a book is filled with meditations and reflections based on the life of Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, the founder of FOCUS Ireland and a practitioner of mindfulness. Mindful Meditations for Every Day is the ideal book for readers with busy lifestyles who would like to pace themselves and reflect upon the finer moments. Filled with daily meditations, mindfulness exercises and scripture for each month, this book is both a guide to the practice of mindfulness and as a source of daily inspiration.
Travelling Light
by Daniel O’Leary
In these uncertain times that we live in, many of us feel that something is missing and unfulfilled in our daily lives. If you feel a call to deepen your life and be happier, Travelling Light can empower you to find a new way of living. This book aims to use reflections and mindful practices to help those who are searching for true fulfilment and destiny. Inspired by the author’s own soul’s journey, it is drawn from a theology of creation and a spirituality of the heart.
Where I Find God
by Cora Guinane & Joanne O’Brien
Where I Find God brings together many of Ireland’s finest thinkers and asks them where they have found, and continue to find, the Divine in their lives. With contributions from former President Mary McAleese, homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry, and RTÉ Radio’s Joe Duffy, amongst others, Where I Find God asks readers to pause and reflect on their own unique spiritual experiences. These encounters can be provoked by both positive circumstances – in the midst of great beauty, or through human relationships – as well as through the pain and suffering which we all inevitably face at some point in our lives.
Harvesting Hope with Anthony de Mello
by John Callanan
These days, having faith in God’s goodness can be challenging, especially when so many of us have hopes unfulfilled and disappointments that threaten us with failure and regret. How can we continue to pray when so many are struggling? Using the wisdom of Anthony de Mello, one of the finest spiritual teachers of modern times, Fr John Callanan, an Irish Jesuit, outlines how to deal with these darker moments. A wonderful gift for those struggling with hope and fear borne of the stresses and strains of daily life.
The Sacred life of Everything
by Sr Stan and Síle Wall
If you take the time to pay attention to the world around you, you can discover the sacred in the ordinary and mundane. Tapping into the everyday moments that can be precious and awe-inspiring, this book is designed to give you a greater sense of presence and inner peace. A collection of meditations combined with poems, reflections, and photographs that stem from the work of Síle Wall and Sr Stan in The Sanctuary, it will guide the reader to meditate, to become more present, more aware, and more mindful.