Whilst many of us will know Ruby Wax as a comedienne, in more recent times she has been an advocate for mental health; in April 15 her services to mental health were celebrated by being awarded an OBE. This followed her obtaining a Masters in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from the University of Oxford. The book I’m talking about today is the second that she has written in this genre, the first being: Sane New World: Taming the Mind – a manual for understanding the brain and providing an insight in to human behaviour, this book was turned in to a theatre show and now the same is happening for Frazzled, with dates still left in June 2016 in London and more being added soon: www.rubywax.net
Ruby Wax’s latest book called A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled is a self-help book, in the sense that the book contains a six week course based on her studies at Oxford University with advice for parents, children, for relationships and for teenagers but it is delivered with her acerbic wit, so much so you will effortlessly glide through the book without realising its real intent – to get you to be more mindful and to change for good! The end result is a smart, humorous and accessible book.
Ruby says about the book:
“500 years ago no-one died of stress: we invented this concept and now we let it rule us. We might have evolved to be able to miraculously balance on seven-inch heels, but as far as our emotional development is concerned we’re still swimming with the pond scum. If we don’t advance our more human qualities then we’re doomed evolution-wise to become cyborgs, with an imprint of an ‘Apple’ where our hearts used to be.”
Ruby Wax shows us a scientific solution to these modern problems: mindfulness.
“I know what you’re thinking – what if I don’t want to stare at a butterfly wing or hear the single ting of a wind chime? My definition of mindfulness isn’t about sitting erect on a hillock, legs in a knot, humming a mantra that’s probably the phone book sung backwards, it’s something that can help us all: learning to notice your thoughts and feelings so you can truly experience life.”
In a recent article for Sainsbury’s Magazine, Ruby explained that although ‘mindfulness’ has been a buzz word for some ten years or so, it is a concept taken very seriously – so much so the US Marines have adopted it. She explains that mindfulness and her book are about “A way of exercising your ability to pay attention…noticing your thoughts and feelings without kicking your own ass while you’re doing it.”
- Think of ‘attention’ like a muscle – use it or lose it…
- Learn to ‘focus’ inside – so you can observe your thoughts without the usual commentary!
- People you are close to will find it incredibly flattering when you give them your full and undivided attention.
- To achieve mindfulness you must learn compassion – be kind to yourself first and then you will pass kindness on to others.
Book cover image courtesy of Penguin Life Books
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