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Shortcuts to Inner Peace: 70 Simple Paths to Everyday Serenity
Finding serenity every day...in the everyday things we do. It can be a challenge to reach a calm and relaxed mindset, especially in our modern world. But in Shortcuts to Inner Peace, Ashley Davis Bush helps readers learn how to hit the pause button amidst the chaos with a spirit of mindfulness-linking fast, easy, and restorative respites to ordinary everyday activities.
Once people begin to integrate these shortcuts into their daily lives, they begin to happen automatically. And when that happens, inner peace will no longer be a brief state of mind, but a way of life.
Once people begin to integrate these shortcuts into their daily lives, they begin to happen automatically. And when that happens, inner peace will no longer be a brief state of mind, but a way of life.
272 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Davis Bush
20 books53 followersI'm so glad to be part of the Goodreads forum!
I am a licensed psychotherapist in private practice now living in Antigua, Guatemala. I am also the author of 10 self-help books.
In my clinical work I focus on helping individuals cope with loss, heal from trauma, find inner peace, navigate life's transitions and on helping couples improve their relationship.
My background: I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Smith College and a Masters in Social Work degree from Columbia University. Early on, I worked in community mental health in New York City later wrote, lived and practiced in southern New Hampshire for 22 years.
I, with my husband Daniel, have 5 grown children who live around the globe.
I enjoy singing and perform with local choral groups and community theaters.
I am a licensed psychotherapist in private practice now living in Antigua, Guatemala. I am also the author of 10 self-help books.
In my clinical work I focus on helping individuals cope with loss, heal from trauma, find inner peace, navigate life's transitions and on helping couples improve their relationship.
My background: I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Smith College and a Masters in Social Work degree from Columbia University. Early on, I worked in community mental health in New York City later wrote, lived and practiced in southern New Hampshire for 22 years.
I, with my husband Daniel, have 5 grown children who live around the globe.
I enjoy singing and perform with local choral groups and community theaters.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 9, 2017
This is actually good for what it’s intended to be, it does exactly what it wants to do.
Bush is like a spacey hippie and I wish I were the kind of person who felt the world as sincerely as she does.
I especially liked the image of the “morning glories” shortcut, which, as you brush your teeth in the morning, consists of thinking of three things in your day that you will approach with openness and curiosity, “much as a morning glory opens to the sun.” Morning glories, Bush says, “open each morning fresh and optimistic to take in a new day. They don’t label, discriminate, judge… they simply open and receive.” Lovely.
I catered this to sometimes picking people I’d make an effort to be specifically receptive and curious and open-hearted to, since truly my biggest problem isn’t stress- I don’t mind stress over practical things- but suppressed resentment and overall bitchiness towards people.
I have a terrible habit of being extraordinarily affected by what people say to/about me, either positive or negative. A compliment or a criticism can change my week, my month. A criticism that hits me hard, even one lightly said, is remembered for years. I like Bush’s advice to not just stopping the influence of the negatives but also of the positives. If you take compliments as reflective of yourself, it’s only natural and logical to also accept criticisms as the same. I am not what people say of me, either positive or negative; I am more than their opinion.
I also like her idea of imagining yourself as a net or mesh instead of building walls around you when in a crowded, hostile place that overloads your senses. Letting it pass through you instead of trying to block it, while you remain “unattached and nonreactive.” I started doing this and ended up creating a visualization for myself. You know how edible seaweed is grown in Japan, cultivated on nets strung up in the ocean? I imagined myself as a seaweed-covered net, fluttering in the ocean currents as they pass through me. Amazingly soothing and does “break down the barriers between self and others, allowing the energy to move through and past us without sticking to us.”
Bush is like a spacey hippie and I wish I were the kind of person who felt the world as sincerely as she does.
I especially liked the image of the “morning glories” shortcut, which, as you brush your teeth in the morning, consists of thinking of three things in your day that you will approach with openness and curiosity, “much as a morning glory opens to the sun.” Morning glories, Bush says, “open each morning fresh and optimistic to take in a new day. They don’t label, discriminate, judge… they simply open and receive.” Lovely.
I catered this to sometimes picking people I’d make an effort to be specifically receptive and curious and open-hearted to, since truly my biggest problem isn’t stress- I don’t mind stress over practical things- but suppressed resentment and overall bitchiness towards people.
I have a terrible habit of being extraordinarily affected by what people say to/about me, either positive or negative. A compliment or a criticism can change my week, my month. A criticism that hits me hard, even one lightly said, is remembered for years. I like Bush’s advice to not just stopping the influence of the negatives but also of the positives. If you take compliments as reflective of yourself, it’s only natural and logical to also accept criticisms as the same. I am not what people say of me, either positive or negative; I am more than their opinion.
I also like her idea of imagining yourself as a net or mesh instead of building walls around you when in a crowded, hostile place that overloads your senses. Letting it pass through you instead of trying to block it, while you remain “unattached and nonreactive.” I started doing this and ended up creating a visualization for myself. You know how edible seaweed is grown in Japan, cultivated on nets strung up in the ocean? I imagined myself as a seaweed-covered net, fluttering in the ocean currents as they pass through me. Amazingly soothing and does “break down the barriers between self and others, allowing the energy to move through and past us without sticking to us.”
December 18, 2011
The aim of this book is to make the benefits of meditation available to people who don't have the time or patience to seriously embark on a meditation practice. Bush has come up with 70 short exercises designed to get you in the habit of thinking more positively and help you de-stress. To make it easier to make them habits, she has linked each exercise—the "shortcuts" of the title—to an everyday activity or experience which acts as a trigger.
For each shortcut, the author gives a suggested trigger and describes the shortcut itself. She then tells you a bit about what happened in her life that inspired her to develop that shortcut and ends by explaining its purpose. The appendices at the end of the book are really helpful, sorting the shortcuts in different ways (shortcuts to do in the car, say, or ones that are primarily verbal or that involve visualization or are good to use when you're really stressed).
The author's explanations of how to do the shortcuts and their purposes are short and to the point. The bulk of the book comes from her stories about how she came up with each shortcut. I'm glad she included these—without them, the book would just have been an instruction manual. Each story stands alone, which is good if you're just choosing shortcuts here and there to use. Since I read the book from beginning to end, I found myself wishing by page 210 that she would just assume that I knew about her divorce already. The tone of the book is a little more New-Agey than I prefer, but that's just a matter of personal taste and it doesn't change the exercises one way or another. Overall, the author has come up with an easy-to-use introduction to meditation that can work on its own or could serve as a bridge to a more intense practice.
For each shortcut, the author gives a suggested trigger and describes the shortcut itself. She then tells you a bit about what happened in her life that inspired her to develop that shortcut and ends by explaining its purpose. The appendices at the end of the book are really helpful, sorting the shortcuts in different ways (shortcuts to do in the car, say, or ones that are primarily verbal or that involve visualization or are good to use when you're really stressed).
The author's explanations of how to do the shortcuts and their purposes are short and to the point. The bulk of the book comes from her stories about how she came up with each shortcut. I'm glad she included these—without them, the book would just have been an instruction manual. Each story stands alone, which is good if you're just choosing shortcuts here and there to use. Since I read the book from beginning to end, I found myself wishing by page 210 that she would just assume that I knew about her divorce already. The tone of the book is a little more New-Agey than I prefer, but that's just a matter of personal taste and it doesn't change the exercises one way or another. Overall, the author has come up with an easy-to-use introduction to meditation that can work on its own or could serve as a bridge to a more intense practice.
January 5, 2012
This was a Goodreads First Reads. I really enjoyed this book! I've been talking to friends about it since I started reading it and am going to lend it to them. There are so many good suggestions, I think I need to put up post-it notes to remember them all. I especially liked how after each shortcut, there was a "purpose" listed. It acted as a "why should you do this?" for the shortcuts. I know I won't use all of them (mostly because I will forget and the one where you first wake up in the morning definitely won't work!) but all the shortcuts don't take a huge amount of time to complete. I liked reading the stories of how the shortcuts came to be. Take one life experience and translate it into a way to calm stress, just great! I think I will permanently have "You are my sunshine" in my head now!
August 24, 2012
I normally don't read self-help type books, but because I like Ashley Davis Bush's newsletters (and because I'm a bit of a stress case) I thought I'd give this one a shot!
I found that not only is this a simple and focused book, but it is extremely effective and honest. Not all of the tips appealed to my own personal levels of anxiety, but the ones that did hit home hard.
I bookmarked nine of the shortcuts that stood out the most to me, and since this is a library book and I must return it, I plan on memorizing them as soon as I can. (Surprisingly I find myself doing several shortcuts that I didn't bookmark, but clearly they struck a cord as I do them without even realizing it!)
Not only is this little book one that I would purchase for myself, but one that I would consider giving as a gift (to the right person of course!) as well.
I found that not only is this a simple and focused book, but it is extremely effective and honest. Not all of the tips appealed to my own personal levels of anxiety, but the ones that did hit home hard.
I bookmarked nine of the shortcuts that stood out the most to me, and since this is a library book and I must return it, I plan on memorizing them as soon as I can. (Surprisingly I find myself doing several shortcuts that I didn't bookmark, but clearly they struck a cord as I do them without even realizing it!)
Not only is this little book one that I would purchase for myself, but one that I would consider giving as a gift (to the right person of course!) as well.
February 21, 2012
As an individual who is trying to adjust to a new city, new job, and plan a wedding, my stress level has never been higher. Who has the time to do meditation or yoga? With that frame of mind, I went into this book as a very skeptical person. That being said, this book surprised me on many levels. I felt in many of the examples she used, that they were pages out of my own life's story. I not only loved how the shortcuts were outlined and explained, but I was convinced to try a few. They are easy enough (not time consuming) and really do work. I already feel more calm. I am less focused on all the things I have to get done and more focused on living life and accepting life. I will most likely look back on this book many times to help guide me in the future if things get intense.
May 5, 2012
If I was to sum up this book as shortly as I could, I would say “self-awareness”. This theme travels through the book and shows that simple self-awareness allows a person to make a choice about their reaction to stressful situations.
While the content isn’t new, the format and approach are refreshing. The author is careful to use a conversational tone. The book feels more like a chat with a friend over coffee than other books of this genre that can be a bit preachy.
The author lists the many daily opportunities we have to release stress and offers clever mnemonics to jog your memory into action.
Overall: A nice, quick read that helps you focus on the simple decisions that promote a healthy mental outlook.
While the content isn’t new, the format and approach are refreshing. The author is careful to use a conversational tone. The book feels more like a chat with a friend over coffee than other books of this genre that can be a bit preachy.
The author lists the many daily opportunities we have to release stress and offers clever mnemonics to jog your memory into action.
Overall: A nice, quick read that helps you focus on the simple decisions that promote a healthy mental outlook.
December 14, 2011
I really liked this book. The author--a NH resident--includes lots of stories about how she uses the shortcuts in her own life and deals head-on with the issue that mindfulness practices don't always seem compatible with actual life. Serenity is much easier in a calm serene place, but it is really valuable in the middle of your daily chaos. This book seems to have some solid tools to help.
Oddly, this book was sitting on my desk waiting to be looked at when I went away for Thanksgiving. The inflight magazine on our plane had an article about the book. Clearly I was supposed to read this. I'm glad I did.
Oddly, this book was sitting on my desk waiting to be looked at when I went away for Thanksgiving. The inflight magazine on our plane had an article about the book. Clearly I was supposed to read this. I'm glad I did.
April 14, 2016
I love this book! I've read other self-help and mindfulness books, but this one is the simplest to put into practice and read in bits (which suits my current schedule). The shortcuts are clear and Bush's style is both anecdotal, authoritative (knowledge-based), and easy to read. I have been using the "Catch and Release" shortcut to good effect...like anything, this takes effort and time, but the tips are able to be incorporated into daily life and I have already noticed a shift in my attitude and level of calm. I bought a copy so I could carry it with me for easy reference. Highly recommended.
February 12, 2015
AMAZING book. This book is exactly what I've been looking for, for years. I've tried "self help" and "meditation" books, only to find myself feeling peaceful for about 10 minutes after I get off the cushion. This book provides easy to implement ways to continue that feeling of inner peace throughout the day, to the point where feeling peaceful becomes a habit. I love this book, it's absolutely my new "go to" book when it comes to feeling good, and creating inner peace.
April 25, 2012
This is an amazing little book full of simple, yet effective, ways to reclaim or maintain inner tranquility. Ms. Bush points out multiple ways of using the book as a guide. The Appendices and Bibliography add enormously to the strength of this work. Would recommend it!
July 12, 2012
LOVED this. So many concrete, creative, and simple ways to cultivate inner peace and gratitude. Clears my "worthy of re-reading" hurdle to earn 5 stars.
July 8, 2020
Really excellent mindful book! Wonderful ways to help you de-stress, relax and be at peace with the world around you and life. Creative tricks and things you can do daily that are so simple, yet work so well!
August 9, 2014
Ich habe mir die deutsche Ausgabe von diesem Buch gekauft - mit dem herrlichen, denglischen Titel "Gelassenheit to go". Ganz unabhängig vom Titel ist der Inhalt des Buches ganz nett und ziemlich schnell erklärt: ca. 70 (?) Übungen und Mini-Meditationen, um zu lernen gelassener und entspannter zu werden. Die Übungen sind allesamt sehr kurz und einfach. Sie wirken leicht in den Alltag einbringbar, da sie immer an eine alltägliche Aufgabe gekoppelt sind, z.B. Duschen oder Türe aufschließen. Ob das tatsächlich so klappt kann ich noch nicht sagen, da ich mir noch keine konkreten Übungen ausgesucht habe. Manche sind mir persönlich auch etwas zu esoterisch angehaucht, aber dafür gibt es ja genug Auswahl. Zudem wird man aktiv ermutigt, Übungen für sich selbst abzuwandeln, wenn es einem das erleichtert.
March 15, 2019
“We feed our stress by blaming our circumstances for our condition rather than seeing how we participate in creating our stress.”
“Through intentionally summoning a feeling of calm, we literally change the chemistry of our bodies by activating the parasympathetic nervous systems, which, in turn, creates more serenity in our bodies.”
My daughter found this useful—helped her preoperatively due to some of the techniques. I like the idea of pinning them on to every day activities and events.
“Through intentionally summoning a feeling of calm, we literally change the chemistry of our bodies by activating the parasympathetic nervous systems, which, in turn, creates more serenity in our bodies.”
My daughter found this useful—helped her preoperatively due to some of the techniques. I like the idea of pinning them on to every day activities and events.
September 9, 2014
One of the books that I borrowed from the library that I ended up purchasing from the bookstore later because it was so helpful. I cherish this book and find it very simple and easy to follow. I actually don't own many self-help books, but this one was a must read/buy! I find myself picking it up from time to time just to remind myself of easy little tactics to make life a bit more enjoyable.
November 28, 2015
This was a book that I skimmed. Meaning I would go to the next topic and if it interested me, I would read it. There were some practical tips and I loved that she tied mindfulness to a trigger of something you do in the day.
January 27, 2015
Ein Buch voll wunderbarer Ideen um gelassener durchs Leben zu gehen!
September 23, 2015
An actually useful book about how to find ways to ground mundane actions in your day so that your life is more meditative.
June 12, 2016
Great tips! Approachable, not cheesy, and easy to remember.
June 27, 2017
I'm currently trying out the tips and tricks this books offers, and they've been helping me indescribably.
January 22, 2020
Useful for meditations.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews