James Baraz, cofounder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and renowned meditation teacher for more than 30 years, reveals his 10-step program for how we can reorient our minds away from dissatisfaction and distraction and toward the contentment and delight that is abundantly available in our everyday lives.

 “Filled with engaging exercises and practical advice to make happiness your natural default setting and grounded in Buddhist principles – though accessible to people of all faiths or no faith at all – Awakening Joy takes you step-by-step through cultivating behaviors and attitudes that bring well-being into your life. From resetting your mind toward happier thoughts, to learning to be present in the moment, this practical down-to-earth guide will teach you how to:

• Make happiness a habit by inclining your mind toward states that lead to well-being;
• Find joy even during difficult times and avoid the pitfalls that prevent you from achieving the contentment you seek;
• Cultivate effective practices for sustaining joyfulness, such as reclaiming your natural sense of wonder and finding joy and gratitude in the midst of everyday experiences;
• Choose words to remember your intention to be happy when making decisions about how to think or act;
• Learn to let go – of change, of our obsession with material objects, of crowded schedules, of stories that limit us – to gain a greater sense of
  well being and joy in our everyday lives.”

 James Baraz is accompanied by co-author Shoshana Alexander.
 Shoshana Alexander has studied Buddhism since 1970 and was the director of the Family Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center when her son was a child. She is the author of In Praise of Single Parents, Women?s Ventures, Women?s Visions, and, with the Findhorn Community, The Findhorn Garden. She has guided various works of several prominent Buddhist authors, including Sharon Salzberg, Tara Brach, and Wes Nisker. She lives in Ashland, Oregon, where she teaches writing and leads various workshops, including Awakening Joy support groups.

 James Baraz is at Hollyhock on October 1 to 6 (www.hollyhock.ca or 800-933-6339)

Awakening Joy website.