PROLOGUE
PREFACE: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK
AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY OF AGEING FROM WITHIN
MINDFULNESS .
HOW TO READ THE BOOK
INTRODUCTION
THE PARADOX OF AGEING
AGEING IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR LIVING
FACING THE MANY ISMS
PREPARING FOR THE -YEAR LIFE
AGEING AS A DANCE
I AM NOT YOUNG NOR OLD - I AM HERE
PART ; FROM STRIVING TO THRIVING
CHAPTER : AGEING; FROM A STATE OF BEING TO A PROCESS OF ADAPTATION
WHY DO WE AGE?
SUCCESSFUL AGEING - ONLY FOR THE ELITE OR LUCKY FEW?
MINDFULNESS CAN HELP US ADAPT
CHAPTER : FROM AVOIDANCE TO FLOW - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE A FRAMEWORK
NEW LIFE TO AN OLD KITCHEN KNIFE
NOTICE IT, KNOW IT, FLOW WITH IT!
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE - INVESTING IN A THRIVING (AGEING) LIFE
PART : NOTICE IT
CHAPTER ATTENTION - INVESTING YOUR MENTAL CURRENCY WISELY
PAY ATTENTION!
A WANDERING & NEGATIVE MIND KEEPS US SAFE
LETS BE PATIENT REBELS!
SAVOURING THE PLEASANT
ATTENTION TRAINING
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER THE INTERPLAY OF ATTENTION AND AWARENESS
FROM MURKY TO CLEAR WATERS
A CERTAIN KIND OF ATTENTION
A NATURAL RESISTANCE
START PRACTICING
PART : KNOW IT
CHAPTER : AWARENESS OF WHAT DRIVES OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS
OUR HUMAN BRAINS ARE CREATED TO MISLEAD US.
AWARENESS OF SELF-CREATED HABITS
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SUFFERING
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER : AWARENESS OF MYSELF
DO I HAVE A SELF AND IF SO, CAN I CHANGE IT?
CAN WE CHANGE OURSELVES INTO HAPPIER INDIVIDUALS?
PERSONALITY TRAITS AND WELLBEING
HOW TO GROW OLDER INSTEAD OF MERELY GETTING OLDER.
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER : AWARENESS OF MY PURPOSE AND MEANING
CONNECTING TO THE LIFE FORCE WITHIN
REPLACING AGEING WITH VITALITY
KNOWING OUR VALUES
THE BIG QUESTIONS
START PRACTICING
PART : FLOW WITH IT!
CHAPTER ATTITUDE - CHANGING PERSPECTIVE
THE WAY WE THINK MATTERS
STRESS AS AN EXAMPLE
RE-FRAMING AGEING
TURNING OLD ANTS INTO NEW PETS
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER AFFECTION - FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS
WE ARE SOCIAL BEINGS
CHOOSING BETWEEN THE FORCES WITHIN US
EXPANDING MY TRIBE
AFFECTION FOR OTHERS
AFFECTION FOR SELF
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER ACCOMMODATION; DROPPING THE BATTLES
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ACCOMMODATING?
STOP THE STRIVING AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE
OUR INTELLIGENCE WILL NOT SAVE US FROM SUFFERING
ACCEPTING THE IMPERMANENCE OF LIFE
BEING A BIGGER CONTAINER
ACCOMMODATING PAIN, ILLNESS AND DEATH
START PRACTICING
CHAPTER : ADAPTATION
STRATEGIES FOR ADAPTATION
SELECTION - MAKING MINDFUL CHOICES AND SETTING GOALS
Wise selections start with pauses
Flexible goal selection and attainment
OPTIMISATION - HOW CAN I IMPROVE THE ODDS OF ACHIEVING MY GOALS IN THE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES?
The importance of having a sense of agency
COMPENSATION - ACCEPTING THAT I CANNOT DO WHAT I WANT TO
Finding Compensation in the present moment
EPILOGUE
END NOTES
