{"id":3668,"date":"2015-01-18T12:42:14","date_gmt":"2015-01-18T17:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/?p=3668"},"modified":"2015-01-18T12:42:14","modified_gmt":"2015-01-18T17:42:14","slug":"uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html","title":{"rendered":"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"uncovering-happiness-198x300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My dharma friend and mindfulness colleague, Elisha Goldstein has a fascinating new book out. It describes the ways that we can harness our own healing power to create natural antidepressants. These five include mindfulness, of course, self-compassion, living in accordance with purpose, play, and a sense of mastery.<\/p>\n

His book contains practical guidance that can be helpful for just about anyone who ever struggles with depression or self-loathing, which pretty much covers most of us.<\/p>\n

Here is the promise of the book:<\/p>\n

Mindfulness works by interrupting the conditioned cycle of thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behavior that mire people in a downward spiral of depression. Using mindfulness allows us to transform our harsh internal critics to voices of support by increasing the capacity for self-compassion that nurtures self-worth and resiliency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is a very appealing invitation for bringing mindfulness into your life. Mindfulness would also interrupt any downward spiral such as anxiety.<\/p>\n

The book is organized into three sections, the first focuses on depression, the second focuses on the five natural antidepressants mentioned above, and the final section is a practical, hands-on resource for making lasting change in your life.<\/p>\n

Elisha is not only a pioneer in mindfulness treatment methods, he is a practitioner himself. Without shame, he shares the story of how he came to mindfulness from a very vulnerable position in his life. Mindfulness is not some intellectual curiosity to him, then, it is a living and breathing and life-saving practice.<\/p>\n

Mindfulness and self-compassion are part of living an awakened life and dictate, encourage, and support behaviors, attitudes, and insights that can harness our natural healing capacities.<\/p>\n

Depression is on the rise in this culture and so is the reliance on anti-depressant medication.\u00a0He makes an eloquent case that depression is not your fault; however you must take responsibility for it if you want to change.<\/p>\n

It might be the case that our culture is increasingly depressed precisely because of the lack of the five natural antidepressants in our lives. We go through our days harried, mindless, and stressed. We beat ourselves up relentlessly. We’ve lost touch with purpose and play. Mastery is not in short supply but it is often done in a task-driven way that squeezes out the joy.<\/p>\n

This is a book that I will recommend to my depressed patients and those who are not clinically depressed but are simply too hard on themselves. I have enjoyed reading it myself as a reminder of the things that I know about these practices and I value seeing the novel ways that he packages the practices. It’s safe to say that Dr. Goldstein is the mindfulness therapist’s,\u00a0mindful therapist.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Pre-order your copy now.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My dharma friend and mindfulness colleague, Elisha Goldstein has a fascinating new book out. It describes the ways that we can harness our own healing power to create natural antidepressants. These five include mindfulness, of course, self-compassion, living in accordance with purpose, play, and a sense of mastery. His book contains practical guidance that can…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12,15,14],"tags":[889,886,888,21,887,883],"class_list":["post-3668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-shelf","category-buddha-101","category-media","category-recommended","tag-depression","tag-elisha-goldstein","tag-meaning","tag-mindfulness","tag-purpose","tag-self-compassion"],"yoast_head":"\nUncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion - Mindfulness Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion - Mindfulness Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My dharma friend and mindfulness colleague, Elisha Goldstein has a fascinating new book out. It describes the ways that we can harness our own healing power to create natural antidepressants. These five include mindfulness, of course, self-compassion, living in accordance with purpose, play, and a sense of mastery. His book contains practical guidance that can…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mindfulness Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-01-18T17:42:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-198x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Arnie Kozak\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion - Mindfulness Matters","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion - Mindfulness Matters","og_description":"My dharma friend and mindfulness colleague, Elisha Goldstein has a fascinating new book out. It describes the ways that we can harness our own healing power to create natural antidepressants. These five include mindfulness, of course, self-compassion, living in accordance with purpose, play, and a sense of mastery. His book contains practical guidance that can…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html","og_site_name":"Mindfulness Matters","article_published_time":"2015-01-18T17:42:14+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-198x300.jpg"}],"author":"Dr. Arnie Kozak","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html","name":"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion - Mindfulness Matters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-198x300.jpg","datePublished":"2015-01-18T17:42:14+00:00","dateModified":"2015-01-18T17:42:14+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/#\/schema\/person\/5f92cf2ae15fbe04e74ca47527ac68d8"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-198x300.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/files\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-198x300.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/2015\/01\/uncovering-happiness-overcoming-depression-with-mindfulness-and-self-compassion.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/","name":"Mindfulness Matters","description":"Beliefnet Voices - Arnie Kozak","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/#\/schema\/person\/5f92cf2ae15fbe04e74ca47527ac68d8","name":"Dr. Arnie Kozak","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/6ab\/6abd6f3205265768510a13d66ac2aff7x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/6ab\/6abd6f3205265768510a13d66ac2aff7x96.jpg","caption":"Dr. Arnie Kozak"},"description":"Recognized as an innovator in the field of mindfulness-based psychology, Dr. Arnie Kozak is northern New England's leading expert in the field. Dr. Kozak's ability to translate ancient healing traditions into pragmatic applications suitable for modern lifestyles through the use of metaphors have made him a strong voice in healthcare and business. Beginning with a journey to India in the 80\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s where he took the Bodhisattva vows from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Arnie Dr. Kozak began his lifelong practice in mindfulness meditation. Intent on finding a way to bring the practical healing attributes of mindfulness he began incorporating these techniques in his private practice. In 2002 Dr. Kozak created Exquisite Mind in Burlington, Vermont as a vehicle that could expand his wisdom to larger audiences beyond individual psychotherapy to professionals and corporations, health care providers, public groups and, most recently with Exquisite Mind Golf, amateur and professional golfers. His award-winning new book, Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants: 108 Metaphors for Mindfulness (Wisdom Publications, 2009) is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring translation of mindfulness practice through the inventive use of metaphor applicable to our daily lives. In addition to his work with Exquisite Mind, Arnie Kozak, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist\u00e2\u20ac\u201dDoctorate has been a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Vermont and is a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry and Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine. He has studied and practiced clinical psychology, meditation, and yoga for more than 25 years. He has studied with several meditation masters, including S. N. Goenka, Larry Rosenberg, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After receiving his bachelors degree with honors from Tufts University, he was awarded a Presidential Fellowship to get his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University at Buffalo. He completed his training as a Psychological Fellow at the Harvard Medical School. Prior to founding the Exquisite Mind in 2002, Arnie worked ten years in the private sector for the PKC Corporation consulting on mental health content for this revolutionary software company.","sameAs":["http:\/\/exquisitemind.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/author\/akozak"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3668"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3677,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3668\/revisions\/3677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/mindfulnessmatters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}