Steady, calm, and brave : 25 Buddhist practices of resilience and wisdom in a crisis

Steady, Calm, and Brave is a practical guidebook for life’s most difficult moments. Meditation teacher Kimberly Brown shows you how to meet unexpected circumstances—a serious health crisis, a looming natural disaster, a terrifying accident—with patience, clarity, and kindness. You’ll learn how to support yourself and others with simple mindfulness exercises and compassion techniques drawn from the Buddhist tradition. These transformative practices will help you manage anxiety and cope with loss. You’ll discover you can truly engage with your struggles and create a sense of ease and peace and resilience even in the worst moments. With relatable stories and beneficial Buddhist teachings, Steady, Calm, and Brave offers soothing support for anyone facing extraordinary challenges. It’s a path to self-compassion and comfort in the midst of uncertainty, that illuminates how to survive a crisis without falling apart, running away, or losing your mind. With insightful reflections and exercises, you’ll develop the wisdom and understanding you need to face intense difficulty, and the confidence to recognize you have all the tools you need to survive—and even thrive—in a crisis and beyond. Contents Preface Acknowledgments Notes on the Practices Chapter 1. How Will I Get through This? Practice 1: Making Room Chapter 2. Don’t Make It Worse Practice 2: Coming to Your Senses Chapter 3. Living with Uncertainty Practice 3: Steady Mind Chapter 4. Suffering Is Not a Dirty Word Practice 4: Saying Yes Chapter 5. Hope and Trust Practice 5: Gladden Your Mind Chapter 6. Love Yourself Practice 6: Learning to Love Chapter 7. Living with Grief and Loss Practice 7: Finding Peace Chapter 8. When Your Family Is Making You Crazy Practice 8: I See You, Anger Chapter 9. Watching a Crisis Unfold Practice 9: Opening Your Heart to the World Chapter 10. Just Relax Practice 10: Giving It Up to the Universe Chapter 11. When You Need Help Practice 11: Giving and Receiving Chapter 12. When You’re Mad at the World Practice 12: Letting Your Heart Break Chapter 13. What to Do When You’re Afraid Practice 13: Facing Fear Chapter 14. When Others Behave Badly Practice 14: Letting Go Chapter 15. When You’re Restless and Bored Practice 15: Looking Closer Chapter 16. A Crisis of Faith Practice 16: Restoring Trust Chapter 17. Living Alone in a Crisis Practice 17: Being Here for You Chapter 18. Don’t Lose Yourself Practice 18: Coming Home Chapter 19. Do No Harm Practice 19: Creating Safety Chapter 20. Navigating a Health Crisis Practice 20: May All Be Healed Chapter 21. A Note on Thoughts and Prayers Practice 21: Effective Praying Chapter 22. Maybe You Need a Break Practice 22a: Time for Yourself Practice 22b: Mindful Walking Chapter 23. Be Joyful When You Can Practice 23: Sharing Delight Chapter 24. Don’t Be Afraid to Give Practice 24: Gratitude Chapter 25. What’s Next? Practice 25: Awakening to Change Appendix A. Mindfulness Meditation Instructions Appendix B. Metta Meditation Instructions Appendix C. Healing the World Meditation Appendix D. Brahmavihara Paritta: Protection Chant of the Four Immeasurable Qualities Notes About the Author Practical teachings to take care of yourself and others in uncertain and unsettling times. Steady, Calm, and Brave offers simple and accessible ways to help readers during a pandemic and beyond. With short, stand-alone readings designed to help you through difficult circumstances, it offers the tools, understanding, and encouragement necessary to meet the extraordinary challenges we face today. In this accessible and down-to-earth guide, meditation teacher Kimberly Brown shares honest and sometimes humorous stories from her life, family, and community to help us navigate difficulties--including social isolation, working from home, societal divisiveness, and worry for the future--with patience, clarity, and mindfulness. Incorporating practical techniques that provide on-the-spot support, Steady, Calm, and Brave will help you access and develop your calm, courageous, and loving heart to make skillful decisions and take compassionate actions for yourself and the world. "Practical teachings to take care of yourself and others in uncertain and unsettling times. Steady, Calm, and Brave offers simple and accessible ways to help readers during a pandemic and beyond. With short, stand-alone readings designed to help you through difficult circumstances, it offers the tools, understanding, and encouragement necessary to meet the extraordinary challenges we face today"-- Provided by publisher