Fully Present introduces you to the science, art,  and practice of mindfulness:

Mindfulness—being in the present moment—  can be cultivated through explicit practices, such as meditation, yoga, or t’ai chi, through creativity or even by walking in nature.

All of these are various means of enhancing your awareness to be more present in life. We coined the term “Mindful Awareness Practices,” or MAPs, to refer to this general class of practices and to the mindfulness practices we teach throughout the book and at UCLA. MAPs can be done by anyone, regardless of age, background, or religion.

Each chapter of Fully Present offers a scientific and experiential look at how mindfulness can shape your life, along with practical exercises, alternating between what we call “The Science,” “The Art,” and “The Practice.”

What the Research Says:

The research exploring mindfulness, although still relatively new, is demonstrating that repeated practice can lead to changes in our lives, including:

• Reducing stress
• Reducing chronic physical pain
• Boosting the body’s immune system to fight disease
• Coping with painful life events, such as the death of a loved one or major illness
• Dealing with negative emotions like anger, fear, and greed
• Increasing self-awareness to detect harmful reactive patterns of thought, feeling, and action
• Improving attention or concentration
• Enhancing positive emotions, including happiness and compassion
• Increasing interpersonal skills and relationships
• Reducing addictive behaviors, such as eating disorders, alcoholism, and smoking
• Enhancing performance, whether in work, sports, or academics
• Stimulating and releasing creativity
• Changing positively the actual structure of our brains