Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention with an open and curious mind to present-moment experiences. It has grown in popularity among practitioners from both Buddhist and non-Buddhist backgrounds. In Fully Present, Dr. Sue Smalley and Diana Winston provide a comprehensive guide for anyone seeking to incorporate mindfulness into daily life to enhance well-being. This new edition includes an afterword and explains the scientific basis for how mindfulness affects the brain and body. It offers practical guidance for developing a mindfulness practice through meditation and everyday activities—waiting in line, exercising, or responding to difficult news with calm and mental clarity. The book combines research studies, personal accounts, and practical applications to demonstrate how simple activities like breathing, listening, and walking can shift perspective and improve life. It presents mindfulness as an approach accessible to both scholars and general readers.