Deeper mindfulness, balance, and joy all begin with cultivating the right frame of mind. We’ve all experienced those moments — a massage, a walk in nature, a church or temple service — where you’re attempting to achieve peace but our minds are too distracted to fully participate. Luckily, you don’t need to make sweeping, life-altering changes to experience mindfulness: The path to presence isn’t necessarily about grand gestures but rather small, intentional daily practices that gradually shift our awareness.
Having a regular mindfulness practice — something you can always come back to in times of stress — is essential for establishing a foundation of calm and clarity in your everyday life. While meditation is often the go-to recommendation in that arena, there’s no one-size-fits-all prescription: Go ahead and experiment to find what works best for you. And since a little guidance can make a big difference, here are five books that offer accessible entry points to developing your own practice, whether you’re a novice or an old pro.
The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life by Joan Chittister
Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun and renowned spiritual teacher, opens our minds to monastic traditions that can help anyone “grow into wisdom, equanimity, and strength of soul by refusing to be drawn into the clamor and chaos of a world on the brink.” This treasure trove of wisdom introduces practices that have sustained seekers for centuries, adapting them for contemporary life.
One particularly valuable concept is statio — spending just five minutes to collect your heart and mind before beginning an activity. This simple practice serves as a foundation for mindfulness by creating intentional transitions between moments in your day. Rather than rushing from one task to the next, statio invites you to pause, center yourself, and approach each new activity with presence and purpose.
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn, often considered the godfather of American mindfulness, created this seminal work that has guided countless readers toward a more present-centered life. I first encountered this book as a teenager and have kept a copy within arm’s reach ever since. Kabat-Zinn’s prose is both profound and accessible, and the title alone has become my mantra to calm down, accept my reality, and revel in the magical moment that is now.
His approach to mindfulness strips away complexity, offering straightforward practices that can be incorporated into everyday life. The book’s enduring relevance speaks to how foundational these teachings are for anyone seeking greater awareness and equanimity.
Rest Is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness by Octavia Raheem
This is a beautiful and enlightening invitation to fundamentally rethink our relationship with rest. In a society that overindexes on constant action and “doing,” Raheem reveals how many of us need to learn to “be” in a different way. After all, meaningful contribution becomes impossible when we’re running on empty.
Raheem helps reframe rest as a refuge and, importantly, as “the bridge between where you are and where you want to be.” By elevating rest to a contemplative practice, she offers a counterbalance to our culture’s relentless hustle. For the full experience, I highly recommend the audiobook version, preferably enjoyed while lying down, allowing her voice to wash over you.
The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker
Consider that the route to presence could be as simple as looking around with fresh eyes. The author suggests exactly this: that mindfulness can begin with simply paying deliberate attention to the overlooked details of our world, like conducting an “auditory inventory” of your neighborhood (taking notes of what you hear and where you hear it), or photographing something of the same color that catches your eye each day.
This delightful book is filled with practices designed to help you reclaim your attention while simultaneously sparking creativity and joy. Walker offers exercises scored by complexity, ensuring there’s something for everyone regardless of experience or time constraints. I challenge anyone to explore this book and not find a way to feel more mindful, balanced, and full of joy.
Your Guide to Ritual Design: Redefine Your Day, Transform Your Life by Kris Farren Moss
I’d be remiss not to include my new book, where I explore the power of ritual in creating meaning and mindfulness in daily life. It offers a practical framework for piecing together moments of meaning throughout your day — small sacred pauses that collectively become a wellspring of power and inspiration.
The guide provides a pathway to shift your attention from life’s constant demands and redirect it toward what truly matters. You’ll particularly resonate with this approach if you’re looking to find more joy in everyday experiences or yearning to step away from the relentless pursuit of productivity that characterizes so much of modern life. This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list — it’s about bringing depth and presence to what you’re already doing.
Each of these books offers a unique pathway to mindfulness, balance, and joy. Whether through ancient monastic wisdom, the art of noticing, or the restorative power of rest, they provide valuable tools for anyone looking to cultivate a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Kris Farren Moss is an author, coach, and lifelong student of human potential. A Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with an MBA from Stanford, she helps people harness the power of ritual to create meaningful, purpose-driven lives. Her book, Your Guide to Ritual Design: Redefine Your Day, Transform Your Life, explores how small, intentional practices can bridge routine and aspiration; follow Kris at @ritualdesignbykfm and find her musings on Substack.
