Habit Swap: Trade In Your Unhealthy Habits for Mindful Ones

by Hugh G. Byrne PhD

Overview

Daily practices to help you replace unhealthy habits with conscious, healthy choices

All of us have a harmful habit we’d like to change—whether it’s unhealthy eating, excessive drinking or shopping, procrastination, compulsively checking email and texting, TV bingeing, worrying, stressful thinking, ‘busyness,’ impatience, or even aggressive driving. But no matter what your bad habit is, you have the power to change it.

From the author of the highly successful The Here-and-Now Habit, this practical guide offers everyday mindful practices for replacing unhealthy habits with healthier ones. With this book, you’ll learn to break free from stubborn behaviors, and discover the freedom and peace that come with living mindfully. You’ll also learn how to develop resilience; manage the difficult emotions that lie at the root of your bad habits; and cultivate acceptance, kindness, and curiosity.

Once you are aware of the emotions that drive your bad habits, you’ll feel empowered to make wise and beneficial choices that enhance your well-being. This go-to guide will help you, every step of the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684034086
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,209,857
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Hugh G. Byrne, PhD, is a senior teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW), and cofounder of the Mindfulness Training Institute of Washington. He has worked extensively in the fields of human rights and social justice, and is committed to advocating the benefits of mindfulness and other contemplative practices to help relieve the suffering of the world. Byrne teaches classes, retreats, and workshops in the United States and internationally. He resides in Silver Spring, MD.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Training Our Mind to Transform Our Habits 5

2 The Powers of Habits and Mindfulness 21

3 Developing a Bedrock Meditation Habit 39

4 Letting Go of Craving, Cultivating Gratitude 55

5 From judgment and Anger to Kindness 73

6 Distraction and the Power of Awareness 91

7 Working Mindfully with Stress and Busyness 105

8 Mindfulness and Our Habits of Consumption 125

9 Mindfulness of Devices and Distractions 143

10 Mindfulness and Habits of Speech and Communication 159

11 Bringing Our Habits Above the Line 175

Conclusion 195

Acknowledgments 199

References 201

Interviews

Byrne resides in Silver Spring, MD.
 

Editorial Reviews

These are essential and liberating tools to transform habits—practical, simple, and wise.”
—Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

Jack Kornfield

The foundation of Habit Swap is that an untrained mind is the root cause of our suffering, and that the untrained mind almost always functions on autopilot or in a state of unawareness. Through his thorough exploration of mindfulness practices, Byrne shows how to lift the veil of unawareness to make what was invisible visible, leading to happiness and a sense of who we really are.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness

Sharon Salzberg

This thoroughly practical book is also a profound exploration of freedom and choice. Drawing on recent science about ‘rewiring’ the brain, it explains how to become free of harmful habits of eating, drinking, speaking, and reacting. And with the gentle guidance of a senior mindfulness teacher, this process of coming home to oneself and becoming again someone who truly chooses…feels soulful, nurturing, and heartfelt. A lovely, important book.”
—Rick Hanson, author of Resilient

Rick Hanson

The good thing about habits is, through awareness, we can change them—for the better! In this witty and practical guide, Hugh Byrne shows us how to work with our mind in ways that swap bad habits for more honesty, intimacy, and harmony in our day-to-day lives. An intentional guide for those wanting to live a more mindful life.”
—Ruth King, Insight Meditation teacher and author of The Emotional Wisdom Cards and Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out

Ruth King

If you can bring your habitual patterns of thinking and acting into an accepting, kind, and mindful presence, you have the key to happiness and peace. Hugh Byrne’s brilliant new book on habits guides you in this pathway, applying mindfulness to some of our most difficult, persistent, and unhealthy habits. Please read and share with others...these teachings are a gift to all who seek inner freedom.”
—Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion

Tara Brach

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