Leaves Falling Gently : Living Fully with Serious and Life-Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion, and Connectedness

Leaves Falling Gently : Living Fully with Serious and Life-Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion, and Connectedness
ISBN: 9781572249998
Publication Date: 1 September 2011

Most people understand that they will eventually die, but imagine that their death will take place at an unknown time and place far in the future, after they've come to terms with the idea of dying and have accomplished most of their goals for this lifetime. Millions of people diagnosed with serious and life-threatening illnesses must face these realities much more suddenly, and are often troubled by fears, anxieties, a sense of loss, and the overwhelming sense that there is still so much more left to do. Written by a nurse and researcher who has more than thirty years of experience working with people who have terminal illnesses, Leaves Falling Gently shows these individuals how they can change the internal experience of coming to terms with dying, if not the external reality of their condition, through mindfulness and compassion. Through clinical and personal stories and research-based guided mindfulness exercises, readers learn and apply the benefits of mindfulness and compassion in order to foster clarity, acceptance, and strength. Each short chapter helps readers come to terms with their situation and maintain courage by offering practical guidance for coping with symptoms, relating to loved ones, and staying mindful even when under medical treatment or while in a hospital. " A friendly introduction to a way of being that can literally and metaphorically give your life back to you." Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. Professor of Medicine emeritus, UMass Medical School Author of Full Catastrophe Living and Coming to Our Senses