Wellbeing & Mindfulness Resources

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin "This book made me happy in the first five pages." --AJ Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible Award-winning author Gretchen Rubin is back with a bang, with The Happiness Project. The author of the bestselling 40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill has produced a work that is "a cross between the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love." (Sonya Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want) In the vein of Julie and Julia, The Happiness Project describes one person's year-long attempt to discover what leads to true contentment. Drawing at once on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world applicability, Rubin has written an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.

Live Well, Teach Well: a Practical Approach to Wellbeing That Works by Abigail Mann Stressed? Overworked? Drowning in marking? This book has it covered. In order to secure the best possible outcomes for your pupils, you must look after your own wellbeing, and Live Well, Teach Well is jam-packed with 90 practical ideas and strategies to help you do just that.#Teacher5aday advocate Abigail Mann provides advice, activities and techniques that any primary or secondary teacher can use to support their own mindfulness, wellbeing, and physical and mental health, and that of their colleagues too. The ideas will help you to stay energised, focused and positive throughout the school year, and to work more efficiently and effectively, so you can maintain a healthy work-life balance. There are also tips on building constructive, fulfilling relationships with the community you are serving, on supporting pupil wellbeing (because a happy class means a happy teacher!) and on making wellbeing a focus at a whole-school level.

Ageing, physical activity, recreation and wellbeing by Barbara Humberstone (Editor) This book will serve to raise awareness of ways of healthy ageing that are facilitated by different forms of, and approaches to, physical activity, exercise and recreation. It presents a collection of studies focusing on the effectiveness of different methods that promote an active lifestyle among communities and older people in general. The contributions draw upon qualitative and quantitative paradigms that have 'active ageing' at the core of their investigations. The book imparts knowledge about recent advances in physical activity, recreation and wellbeing initiatives that will benefit the.

Arts, health and wellbeing : a theoretical inquiry for practice by edited by Theo Stickley and Stephen Clift. "This book brings together leading UK researchers in the field of arts and health, including creative arts therapies. The chapters are based on presentations originally given at a UK seminar series on scholarship and research on connections between the creative arts, health and wellbeing, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It will be of interest to anyone practising or researching arts and health, in both hospitals and community settings. Because of the nature of the work, the volume is cross-disciplinary in theory and multi-disciplinary in practice. As such, it will appeal to a cross-section of practitioners and thinkers."--Provided by publisher.

The Good Life by Edward F. Fischer What could middle-class German supermarket shoppers buying eggs and impoverished coffee farmers in Guatemala possibly have in common? Both groups use the market in pursuit of the "good life." But what exactly is the good life? How do we define wellbeing beyond material standards of living? While we all may want to live the good life, we differ widely on just what that entails. In The Good Life, Edward Fischer examines wellbeing in very different cultural contexts to uncover shared notions of the good life and how best to achieve it. With fascinating on-the-ground narratives of Germans' choices regarding the purchase of eggs and cars, and Guatemalans' trade in coffee and cocaine, Fischer presents a richly layered understanding of how aspiration, opportunity, dignity, and purpose comprise the good life.

Ageing, Spirituality and Well-Being by Malcolm Goldsmith (Contribution by); Rosalie Hudson (Contribution by); Elizabeth MacKinlay (Contribution by); Albert Jewell (Editor) This publication brings together plenary addresses and other papers originally present at the Second International Conference on Ageing, Spirituality and Well-Being. The contributions are compassionate, warm and humane. The book is often insightful, frequently surprising, and can, without hesitation, be recommended as an introductory text to undergraduate nurses who wish to pursue those themes so ably captured by the title.'' - Nursing Philosophy ''This is a timely book, appearing when those in the medical profession are beginning to accept that the spiritual and religious needs of people, and in particular older people, are important subjects which deserve to be considered when assessing the quality of life of a patient.'' - Signpost ''I enjoyed reading this book, with its rich explorations and insights into spirituality in later life... It brings together the views of some of the most well known academics, theologians and medical professionals working in this area... This book is beautifully edited, with an ample introduction, biographies of each of the presenters and enough reading references to fill at least a section of a library. Jewell says he hopes it will be a worthy contribution to the ongoing discussion of spirituality and well -being, and in this he undoubtedly succeeds. There are many snapshots of the life stories of older people scattered throughout the book. I will conclude with the comment of a woman with dementia to her occupational therapist after an art activity: "We have been on a wonderful journey, you and I. What fun we have had, laughing and singing. Holding a rainbow in our hands".'' - Journal of Dementia Care ''It should be required reading for EVERY pastor, carer, visitor, family member''. -The Expository Times ''We are told that we live in a society where ageing is often viewed as an embarrassment, suffering and dying a meaningless experience and death a medical failure. The contributors, from medicine, theology and the social sciences, aim to give guidance on how the particular spiritual needs of the elderly can be defined and addressed; and how meaningful care and support can be given.'' - The International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Research ''This timely book is an excellent, accessible introduction to the spiritual aspects of ageing and deserves to be widely read by anyone with a pastoral concern. It also offers useful practical insights into our own ageing and suggests ways in which we might approach it creatively and with confidence.'' - Methodist Recorder ''This collection of essays on the spiritual well-being of older people has something to offer believers and non-believers alike... All the contributors ponder the application of spirituality, either as a part of formal religion or not, to the lives of older people, and conclude that this area of care is fundamental to positive living in the fourth age of life... the essays are a thought-provoking and insightful contribution to the4 provision of hostilic care in old age. - Community Care ''This is an interesting and worthwhile book. The writings come from people of disparate professions and experiences and from several continents. We all have a great deal to learn of and from each other''s traditions. I hope it will be read and used widely by church groups as well as professionals "living off the geriatric burden''''. There is wonderful material here to help us make something of our awareness that there is more to life than individual material well-being.'' -Dementia Plus Website How can we promote the enduring well-being of those who are moving into the ''fourth'' age of life? Ageing, Spirituality and Well-being explores how well-being is not about physical health alone; having purpose in life and continual spiritual growth are vital elements for older individuals. This book provides guidance on how the particular spiritual needs of this age group can be defined and addressed, and how meaningful care and support can be given. The contributors use their expertise in the fields of medicine, theology and the social sciences to explore ways of overcoming obstacles and finding a balance when dealing with the inner, and inextricably linked outer, lives of elders, including those with dementia or who have had strokes. A collection of diverse views, practical observations and sound advice, this is a thought-provoking resource for all those concerned with the physical, mental and pastoral well-being of older people.

Wellbeing by Mark Vernon The politics of wellbeing and the new science of happiness have shot up the agenda since Martin Seligman coined the phrase "positive psychology". After all, who does not want to live the good life? So ten years on, why is it that much of this otherwise welcome debate sounds like as much apple-pie - "work less", "earn enough", "keep fit", "find meaning", "enjoy freedoms"? The reason is not, ultimately, cynicism. Rather, it is because a central, tricky question is being glossed over: just what is wellbeing? Mark Vernon argues that positive psychology has overlooked and sidelined the ancient wisdom on wellbeing, notably from the Greek philosophers. Now is the time to pay it proper attention.Vernon shows, surprisingly, that wellbeing is not found in a focus on pleasure, or even the pursuit of happiness itself. Rather, it is a question of meaning and responding to the great challenge of our day: the search for transcendence. For at root, the life that is going well cultivates a way of life based upon love: it is that which draws you out of yourself - in friends, hopes and ultimately the contemplation of mystery - and orientates a life towards that which is good.

The Role of Emotion and Emotion Regulation in Job Stress and Well Being by Pamela L. Perrewé (Editor); Christopher C. Rosen (Editor); Jonathon R. B. Halbesleben (Editor) This series promotes theory and research in the growing area of occupational stress, health and well being, and in the process, showcases the work of the best researchers and theorists who contribute to this area. Furthermore, the series promotes the development of truly path-breaking contributions that significantly advance theory and provide specific directions for future work. Each volume of this series has a specific theme and provides a rich compilation of the insights of the top researchers from a variety of fields concerning what we know about work stress and well being and what the critical gaps are that most need attention for the field to progress. The theme for volume 11 concerns the role of emotion and emotion regulation in job stress and well-being.

Health, Wellbeing, Competence and Aging by Ping-Chung Leung; Walter Kofler (Editor); Jean Woo (Editor) The fear of death may translate into the desire for longevity. However, longevity is a true blessing only if it is coupled with good health. Healthiness, in today's expectation, is not simply a disease free state. Rather, it is very much a state of wellbeing and competence, both physically and socially. While Oriental medicine emphasizes on the promotion of physiological balance and internal balance as an integral requirement for longevity, other cultures also have various sophisticated concepts and orientations. This book successfully collates all the different views and approaches from Austria, Russia, China and Japan in the exploration of Health, Wellbeing, Competence and Aging.

Happiness and Goodness by Steven M. Cahn; Christine Vitrano; Robert B. Talisse (Foreword by) "A phenomenal book that offers innovative and penetrating insights into the most fundamental questions of human concern . . . vivid and enjoyable."--Dov Weiss, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   How should we evaluate the success of each person's life? Countering the prevalent philosophical perspective on the subject, Steven M. Cahn and Christine Vitrano defend the view that our well-being is dependent not on particular activities, accomplishments, or awards but on finding personal satisfaction while treating others with due concern. The authors suggest that moral behavior is not necessary for happiness and does not ensure it. Yet they also argue that morality and happiness are needed for living well, and together suffice to achieve that goal. Cahn and Vitrano link their position to elements within both the Hellenistic and Hebraic traditions, in particular the views of Epicurus and lessons found in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Written in an accessible style and illustrated with incisive vignettes drawn from history, literature, films, and everyday life, Happiness and Goodness is a compelling work of philosophy for anyone who seeks to understand the nature of a good life.   "Reminds me of a Socratic dialogue. The absence of jargon and use of realistic examples in this book make philosophy accessible to all interested in improving their lives."--Andrea Tschemplik, American University "This crisply written and incisive book draws on ancient thought and contemporary examples to develop a compelling account of living well."--David Shatz, Yeshiva University "I can't remember the last time I read a book about ethics that was so fascinating."--Ed Lake, deputy editor, Aeon

Music Health and Wellbeing by Tia Denora Taking a cue from Erving GoffmanOCOs classic work, Asylums, Tia DeNora develops a novel interdisciplinary framework for music, health and wellbeing. Adopting a holistic, interactionist focus, Music Asylums reconnects states of wellness and wellbeing to encounters with others and - critically - to opportunities for aesthetic experience. The book presents music as an active ingredient of action, identity, capacity and consciousness. Intended for scholars and practitioners in psychiatry and psychology, palliative care, socio-music studies, music psychology and the allied health professions, Music Asylums showcases music's role in the existential project of being and staying well, mentally and physically."

Be the Jellyfish Training Manual by Lucy Cree; Sarah Brogden The Be the Jellyfish programme is designed to support schools in nurturing the social and emotional wellbeing of children in their care. The lessons are structured around sensory relaxation and include relaxing exercises in breathing, visualisation, and massage. Based on their experiences teaching in primary schools, the creators were inspired to develop a programme that focusses on a child's specific social and emotional needs in order to fulfill their learning potential. Structured as one hour lesson plans, the activities included encourage children to relax, communicate and explore themselves creatively using art materials, peer massage, visualisation, bodywork, breathing, sensory equipment and mindfulness. This manual contains planning ideas for lessons, visualisation scenarios, illustrated bodywork exercises, photocopiable templates and posters to use in the classroom or one on one with a child.