The Now Effect: How a Mindful Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life

by Elisha Goldstein

Alleviate stress, ease pain, cultivate emotional freedom, create a healthier brain, and find enlightenment with cutting-edge techniques from The Now Effect.A leader in mindfulness psychology, Dr. Elisha Goldstein takes the mindfulness approach of helping people to connect to the present moment one step further by offering practical techniques to make deep, permanent life changes. He demonstrates how to use the space between stimulus and response to break free from habitual beliefs and thoughts that don’t serve you. These techniques allow you to connect with the good in life, approach difficulties with more grace, and get connected with what really matters. In essence, Dr. Goldstein teaches the foundation for how “this very moment can change the rest of your life—Now.”

To enhance and ease the reader experience, the text contains Microsoft tags of Dr. Goldstein demonstrating his exercises and the eBook includes embedded videos.           

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Meditation, Personal Growth

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2012

About the author

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author and speaker. He is currently a licensed Psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and also teaches mindfulness-based programs through InsightLA.

Reviews

[Lane Mahnke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Part I, the author sets the stage for what is to come with ideas and practices on paying attention. Try this: "Breathing in, I am aware of what truly matters, breathing out, I let go of living on automatic." He covers understanding what motivates you, getting serious about your intentions, adapting a playful discipline. Try "See, Touch, and Go," a practice to remind you to stay in the present moment.

Part II focuses on the training ground for "the now effect." You can begin with saying "yes," feeling the spaces in your body, taking advantage of the red lights in your life, eating mindfully, and returning to what really matters. In a fascinating chapter on "Know Your Mind, Change Your Brain," Goldstein hits high stride with material on rewriting the movie in your mind, memory matters, mind traps, work, thinking small, and experimenting with the mantra "Maybe so, maybe not." This top-notch chapter is followed by ones on priming your mind for good and changing your mind.

Goldstein provides many thought-provoking insights in his treatment of working with difficult emotions such as fear, sadness, and anger. He closes with a paean to genuine connections with people and practices to go deeper with the now effect.

Goldstein has pulled off a miracle by adding some fresh slants on a subject that has been over-worked in books and articles lately.

[AK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Now Effect is written in a way that is easy to understand and also offers practical, easy to use exercises that I was able to instantly incorporate into my life. What is particularly unique about The Now Effect is that it includes bar codes which link to youtube videos where the Author explains and leads mindfulness exercises. These videos really helped me understand how to implement the exercises and practices into my everyday life. I also loved that the Author has created an online "community" with a website (where you can sign up for daily emails that include "now moment" reminders), Facebook page and Twitter where the author posts short reminders throughout the day to help bring you back into the now. I highly recommend taking advantage of these additional resources. I feel that the book was a great base for my mindful practices and that by being part of this community is supporting me in my quest to lead a more mindful life.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then a book comes along with the power to change your life--or more specifically, to change the way you live your life. For me, The Now Effect is just such a book. By providing both a blueprint for mindful living AND the necessary tools to build something highly practical from it, Dr. Elisha Goldstein offers readers the most precious of gifts: personal empowerment. My suggestion to you: take a deep breath, focus your intention to improve your life, and use this mindful moment to buy this book!

[Ellen Erasmus-Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author had some relevant comments on the subject of mindfulness and I found the exercises relevant and useful.

[Ramiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mentions simple things by giving examples in such a way that they appeal to the reader. As a saying goes that In the mind of geniuses, you find once again, your own neglected thoughts.

[Tawona Baker-Kubena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading a very organized, logically flowing book about mindfulness as I also read this one. The Now Effect felt less organized and a mix of various aspects of mindfulness that didn't follow a particular order. I did, however, love the short chapters, many of which end with a practical way to practice mindfulness in your own life. This made it easy to read in small bits. Many chapters touched topics in a meaningful way. I definitely had many practical take aways from choosing to finish the book.

[Cindy Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathe and be right here.

Good guide to helping you live in the present. The short chapters make it easy to read and take time to put the lessons into practice.

[Sonia Agosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

interessante come approccio alla meditazione

[Meena Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, helps with learning the importance of practicing Mindfulness.

[Peri Kinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book becomes a LOT cliched at times, there's still some good advice from Elisha Goldstein about living in the present. For anyone interested in mindfulness, awareness or living consciously, this would be a good place to start.

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK

[Another · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit I didn't finish this. After the first few chapters it just seemed a bit repetitious. I may read again in future.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much new information but well written and a good guide for bring in the moment.