As someone who has been practicing meditation for years, and has read many books and listened to numerous lectures, I had never heard the term effortless mindfulness.. After having read The Way of Effortless Mindfulness by Loch Kelly, , I’m still not entirely sure I could describe the difference between effortless and regular mindfulness, but that is not for the author’s lack of trying.

That does not in any way detract from the book’s value as an instructive guide to mindfulness. In fact, this is the very book I wish I’d had when I first started meditating. At the time, I was struggling to figure out what, exactly, I was supposed to be doing in trying to clear my mind or focus on my breath. This book offers descriptions and instruction for many various approaches to mindfulness. There are many things I appreciated about the author’s approach, the primary one being that he recognizes that everyone is different and what may work for one person might not work for another.

Mindfulness has become so prevalent today, in many forms. This is not a spiritual guide, nor does it lay out ways to use meditation to further productivity. It is more instructive of using mindfulness as a way of approaching everyday life, in everyday situations.
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"Effortless mindfulness" is a new way to immediately enter an optimal flow state available to us in the midst of our busy lives. In The Way of Effortless Mindfulness, Loch Kelly teaches that when you "unhook" awareness from chattering thoughts, you can access a peaceful mind and a naturally embodied wakefulness. From this heartful space, students report they find that right action comes easily and a loving tenderness for all of life is freely available.

This follow-up to Kelly’s award-winning Shift into Freedom outlines practical and supportive material from neuroscience, psychology, and the wisdom of various spiritual traditions. Here you will find a reader-friendly guide to understanding exactly what effortless mindfulness is, practices for engaging with it, and how to avoid the pitfalls to the full embodiment of this timeless awareness. The Way of Effortless Mindfulness offers a compelling introduction to the next stage in the ongoing mindfulness revolution.