Mindfulness - A Different Platform: Mind the Gap

This book, Mindfulness - A Different Platform by Eleanor Gibson, is a motivational guide centred on mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude to help readers overcome life's challenges and live fulfilling lives. It emphasises how mindfulness can provide clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose, especially when dealing with difficult interpersonal relationships and personal hardships. The book opens with a poetic metaphor of transformation from a butterfly to a caterpillar to a butterfly, illustrating how life events can alter our way of being in the world. Eleanor Gibson shares her realisation that mindfulness allows one to choose a new path in life, akin to boarding a different train at a different platform, leading to new and inspiring journeys through personal growth and mindfulness. The author reflects on the nature of the mind, describing memories as random and mood-congruent, meaning that our current mood influences the type of memories we recall. Mindfulness helps in recognising and managing these moods, promoting happiness through awareness of what truly brings joy. The book explores the impact of destructive relationships, which can severely damage mental and physical health. It highlights the importance of recognising unhealthy dynamics and maintaining one's values and individuality despite others' harmful actions. The book addresses overcoming ruts and fears by taking small steps toward meaningful goals and rediscovering passions. The author shares personal experiences of facing fears and finding renewed purpose through mindfulness study and practise. Readers are encouraged to reflect on values, interests, talents, and desires to identify themes that guide their purpose. Mindfulness teaches appreciation for the present and helps overcome ego-driven dissatisfaction. The metaphor of the lotus flower illustrates flourishing despite adversity. Cultivating gratitude and positivity leads to greater happiness and resilience. Authenticity is emphasised as vital. Mindfulness helps individuals overcome past conditioning, embrace uniqueness, and resist pretending to be others. The author shares anecdotes illustrating the importance of conscience and integrity. The final chapter reiterates the central theme that mindfulness offers a new platform from which to view life, make wiser choices, rebuild after adversity, and flourish authentically. The author encourages readers to embrace mindfulness to live joyfully and freely. This comprehensive guide includes practical mindfulness exercises (RAIN, Training the Mind to Focus, Compassionate Image, A Safe Place) detailed in the appendices, designed to support readers in applying mindfulness daily. In essence, Mindfulness - A Different Platform is a motivational and practical resource encouraging readers to cultivate mindfulness as a means to overcome adversity, nurture self-compassion, build resilience, and live purposefully with gratitude and authenticity. 'Learn from the past, set vivid goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.'(Denis Waitley)

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 - The Mind 1 • Random Memories 1 • Childhood Memories 1 • Happy Memories 2 • Embarrassing Memories 3 • High School Memories 4 • Recent Memories 4 • Mood Congruent Memory 6 • Mindfulness Practice - RAIN 7 Chapter 2 - Destructive Relationships 9 • My Sandcastle 9 • Being Acquainted 10 • A Different Mindset 11 • The Weeble 11 • Masquerade 12 • Intention 13 • The Aftermath 14 • Moving Forward 15 Restoring Equilibrium 15 • Mindfulness Practice - Training the Mind to Focus 16 Chapter 3 - Relationships - Please Mind the Gap 17 • Losing Yourself in Others 17 • Minding the Gap 18 • The Company we Keep 22 • A Mindful Culture 23 • Sensory Overload 24 • Good Company 24 • Mindfulness Practice - Compassionate Image 25 Chapter 4 - Rebuilding Yourself 27 • Upsetting Experiences 27 • Lightening the Load 28 • Objectivity 28 • The Relationship with Ourselves 29 • Psychological Wellbeing 29 • Physiological Wellbeing 30 • Societal Wellbeing 30 • Financial Wellbeing 30 • Energy 31 • Emotional Energy 31 • Mental Energy 32 • Spiritual Energy 32 • Mindfulness Practice - A Safe Place 33 Chapter 5 - A Sense of Purpose 35 • In a Rut 35 • Transition 35 Facing your Fears 37 • Your Purpose in Life 38 • Getting to Know You 39 Chapter 6 - Gratitude 41 • The Grass is Green 41 • We are Here 41 • The Ego 42 • The Power to See our True Self 42 • The Soul 42 • Positivity 43 • Negativity 43 • The Lotus Flower 44 • Creating your own Lotus Flower 44 Chapter 7 - Being Yourself 47 • Being True to Yourself 47 • Conscience 47 • Finding Yourself 48 • Past Conditioning 49 • Uniqueness 49 • The Interior Decorator 50 • By Yourself 50 Chapter 8 - Life Changes 53 • Impermanence 53 • The Times of our Lives 53 • Resilience 55 • Time 55 • Now is the Time 56 • Precious Time 56 Chapter 9 - The Benefits of Mindfulness 59 • Perception 59 • Contentment 60 • Wisdom 60 • Self-love 61 • Clarity 62 • Embodiment 62 • Peace 63 • Gratitude 63 • Balance 64 • Calmness 64 • Respect 65 • Focused 65 • Mindfulness for Everyone 66 Chapter 10 - Mindfulness - A Different Platform 67 Afterword 71 Acknowledgements 73 Notes 75 Bibliography 77 About the Author 81 Appendices 83 • Appendix A - Mindfulness Practice - RAIN 83 • Appendix B - Mindfulness Practice - Training the Mind to Focus 87 • Appendix C - Mindfulness Practice - Compassionate Image 91 • Appendix D - Mindfulness Practice - A Safe Place 93 Helpful Organisations 95

About the Author :
Eleanor Gibson is an author, poet and mindfulness practitioner with an MSc in Mindfulness. Eleanor has received lots of positive feedback from the readers of her first book, Mindfulness The Journey, Not The Destination. She has been practising mindfulness for 12 years and presently teaches mindfulness at South Lanarkshire College, Nifty Fifty's in Coatbridge and Larkhall Library. She also gives presentations on mindfulness to community groups in her local area. Eleanor was born in Motherwell and was educated at Glencairn Primary School, Motherwell; Dalziel High School, Motherwell; The London College of Music; Bell College, Hamilton; Manchester College; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow; City of Glasgow College and the University of Aberdeen. She is passionate about the benefits of mindfulness in all our lives and is delighted to share her experiences and learning on the subject through her books Mindfulness the Journey, Not the Destination and Mindfulness - A Different Platform.

Review :
This book is bursting with wellbeing guidance. One cannot fail to see themselves in the mirror of reflection. Every single story, poem, Mindfulness Practice, and quote will bring your unique experience to full focus. You can learn to just breathe and attain a new focus and equilibrium with yourself and others. Mindfulness - A Different Platform is easy to read straight through and yet can be dipped into regularly as excellent reference material - Robert Grant