Caroline Welch - The Gift of Presence: A Mindfulness Guide for Women

Praise for The Gift of Presence

Caroline Welchs wise and timely book is a clarion call to all women, in the many roles we play, to bring more presence into our lives each daynot just through meditation, but in a variety of wise ways that lead to a richer, less stressful, more balanced life. Sharing her own experience from both Eastern and Western cultures, she offers a wealth of insight and sage advice about pacing, multitasking, relationships, and other essentials; and, as a result, readers will find themselves thinking in new ways about their own homelife, worklife, and the fine art of simply being in the world.

Diane Ackerman, New York Times bestselling author of The Zookeepers Wife

I love this book! Its important that we all embrace the moment, be present, and cherish our time in the here and now. Caroline Welch inspires us to make mindfulness a way of being. The practical steps in this powerful guide lay the groundwork for more calm and less chaos in our lives. What a wonderful way to enhance our health and build a stronger mind!

Goldie Hawn, producer, actress, founder of the Hawn Foundation/MindUP, and author of 10 MindfulMinutes

A powerful statement of how presence can change our lives. The Gift of Presence is a must if you are in a transformational period in your life. Caroline Welch has brilliantly laid out how to live intentionally rather than on autopilot.

Diego Perez aka Yung Pueblo, author of Inward

Caroline Welch has gifted us with The Gift of Presencean inviting, accessible, and beautifully written resource for women. Genuine and down-to-earth, Caroline demystifies mindfulness and provides practical suggestions to make it real. A perfect gift for any woman wanting to be more present while juggling the ups and downs of everyday life!

Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN, president, Mind & Life Institute, and author of Leaves Falling Gently

Caroline Welch has created a wonderfully accessible discourse on a phenomenon that can benefit all of us. It is impossible to engage meaningfully in the world or effectively with others without first being PRESENT. Receptive awareness is an easy concept but requires evidence-based mindfulness practices to fully actualize in our lives. This book will make a difference to its readers.

Drew Pinsky, MD, television host and New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Mirror Effect

Welchs wonderful book is a mindfulness guide for women of all ages. Her gentle, practical, and profound guidance reflects her great insight into the minds and hearts of women.

Mary Pipher, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia and Women Rowing North

Caroline Welch makes a very compelling case for the power of mindfulness to positively transform our lives as women. She deftly navigates the scientific and theoretical foundations of mindfulness while offering a beautiful invitation to become more mindful without ever veering into self-help jargon. The Gift of Presence may be written for women, but it is truly a universal guide for anyone interested in strengthening and deepening their relationships, becoming more effective in reaching their goals, and having more joyful and meaningful lives.

B. Natterson-Horowitz, MD, visiting professor, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, professor of Medicine/Cardiology, UCLA, and New York Times bestselling author of Zoobiquity and Wildhood

This beautifully written book about presence invites women to connect with what is most meaningful in life. It offers practical tools for mindful living that anyone can adopt. It is infused with down-to-earth wisdom, relatable stories, and a look at the science behind it all. Highly recommended!

Diana Winston, director of Mindfulness Education at UCLAs Mindful Awareness Research Center and author of The Little Book of Being

What a welcome resource Caroline Welchs mindfulness guide is for usthe rich array of stories, teachings, and examples lovingly gathered here touch all of our lives. Rigorous research is presented clearly in a strong yet gentle voice. The Gift of Presence is a unique contribution that will benefit countless womenand men, too.

Trudy Goodman, PhD, founding teacher at InsightLA

This is a wonderfully useful tool for helping women to find peace and calm in the midst of busy lives. Highly accessible yet filled with the latest cutting-edge science, this book will teach you how to use presence as a pathway to happiness.

Kristin Neff, PhD, associate professor, University of Texas at Austin, and author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

Calling all women! At a time when we are juggling more than ever before, our stress levels are not just increasing, but have reached levels that are 40 percent greater than mens. Taking care of ourselves has never been more important, and Caroline Welch provides a research-based, healthy path to living with presence and purpose that can make a lasting difference on our health and well-being starting now.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, first partner of California, filmmaker, advocate, and mother of four

We live in a world of culturally constructed messagesoften disempowering for womenthat shape our beliefs, behaviors, and sense of self. The Gift of Presence is the antidote. Caroline Welch masterfully blends science, stories, and practices, offering doable ways to be our most resilient selves and get through even the toughest of times.

Michelle Reugebrink, firefighter, Mindfulness and Resiliency Program manager, and Forest Therapy guide and coach

An evocative reminder that arriving at presence and purpose in your life is as close as your next breath... and thats when things get interesting. Caroline Welch has provided us with a wonderful guide for finding and harnessing these life-transforming qualities.

Zindel Segal, PhD, professor, University of Toronto, and author of The Mindful Way Through Depression

This is a lovely book, scholarly, inviting and wise. From her own fascinating journey, plus the stories of women shes interviewed and taught, Caroline Welch brings us a fresh and user-friendly synthesis of the benefits of meditation and how to make them ours. She weaves a tapestry of memorable concepts, scientific insights, and practical tips on how to live a more mindful life. By enhancing our receptivity to moments of presence that grace our lives, we can make mindful awareness the foundation for an ever-richer life of connection, compassion, and joy.

Diana Chapman Walsh, president emerita, Wellesley College, trustee emerita, Amherst College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Mind and Life Institute

The Gift of Presence is a gift for us allfilled with practical insights and fascinating science about the power of mindfulness. By interviewing more than 100 women from diverse backgrounds, Caroline Welch has gathered real-life examples of how being present enriches our lives, allows us to find purpose and meaning, to recharge and renew ourselves, and to pivot when we need to course-correct. Inspiring, well-written, and wise, its a must-read for women of all ages.

Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive Global

Its so easy to forget what matters and race through our decades. Caroline Welchs wise and clear book shows us how mindful awareness can give us back our life. This fresh and entirely accessible guide explores cultivating presence through formal practice and throughout the moments of your day. It will help you reconnect to your true purpose, call forth your inner resourcefulness, and awaken the fullness of your heart.