The Serenity Passport

SHU—-Confucian virtue of compassion and concern for others

In our busy world today many do not take time to sit and reflect on those we care about and love.  Meditation is one way we may accomplish this.

Sitting quietly and emptying our minds allows us to focus on these loved ones with compassion, kindness, joy and love.  Radiating these energies and frequencies to these ones brings peace and fulfillment to our souls and blesses those we are sending to.  Remember that which we emit to others flows back to us as well and returns to us even more powerful that as we emitted it.

SATI—-found in the Pali Canon or Buddhist tradition and means memory recognition or mindfulness.  It can also be translated as remembering or non-forgetfulness.

It teaches us to be truly mindful of each moment and to treasure that moment in spite of or no matter what occurs.    We are in the moment, observing without judgement, standing apart calmly.  Each moment is a gift and a blessing in spite of or regardless of what we are experiencing.

Ayliak—-Bulgarian for the art of living slowly without worries.  This is not idleness but living slowly, without stress.

Flow—-English for energized focus and awareness or “being in the zone”.   It is where time and space fall away or is suspended; a calmness or tranquility, a moment to moment unfolding that is deeply rewarding.

This book also speaks to being mindful of our thoughts, our words and our actions.  In other words, part of being in the flow and living without stress comes from always being aware of how we think, speak and act.  This means being aware in all moments, not acting out of habit, or because we unconsciously react without thought or contemplation.

Pranayama is Sanskrit for breath control

When we find ourselves in tense or stressful situations, instead of tensing up and holding our breath, we should instead consciously breathe into the situation.  Breathing consciously calms the body and slows down the heart rate allowing us to see resolution quicker and easier than if we remain tense, uptight and fearful.

Desabafar—-Portuguese for taking fresh air or to vent

By following this principle you can do several things.  You can talk to someone about the situation, go to the gym and work it off, or perhaps take your dog for a walk or do some yoga.  These get you away from what was, allowing you to use Ayliak, to bring yourself to a centeredness where you can observe your experience and make a plan of action.

Sometimes we may just have to get away from it all.  Take a day off and go skiing or surfing depending on your location, time of year and/or inclination.  How about taking a child or favorite niece or nephew shopping for that outfit she’s been talking about or the sports event you know will thrill him?   

None of this works, how about listening to music, or taking your favorite person dancing?  Playing an instrument, drumming or toning are just as invaluable and balm for the soul.

Resting is both relaxing to the body as well as the mind.  Taking a brief rest in the afternoon helps relieve stress and relaxes you so you return to your work calmer and more focused.  Resting does not have to mean sleeping, although that would be ideal.  Resting can be as easy as stopping everything and sitting calmly watching out the window.  Surely there is something outside the window that you can focus on to relax your eyes, mind and body.

We all know that there will the times that none of these suggestions seem to work.  It is in these times that quiet perseverance comes to the fore.   Include with it dignity,  patience, endurance and stoicism as you work towards finding that balance, that calmness that you seek.  We may find ourselves “retreating” yet we know retaliating is not what is best for us.

If our vulnerability surfaces, look at it and see it for what it is, acknowledge it yet do not judge yourself for it.  Know you did your very best and now resolve to keep on seeking the calmness, the balance within and you will discover that it is closer than you think.  

Once it returns, thank yourself for all you did.  Be grateful for these practices that bring you or return you to your centeredness, thank God, the Creator or the Great Spirit for assisting you, supporting you and nourishing you.  Thanks and gratitude go hand in hand with balance, serenity and emptying the self so that peace and a stress free life is possible.  

I wish to thank the author, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

"The Serenity Passport" is just that!  It discusses different techniques/beliefs from various cultures on how to achieve peacefulness, mindfulness, calmness.  I loved reading the different cultural beliefs and the artwork in the book. The pictures inspire calmness also.

I love the premise of this book, but not the execution. The basic idea is that the author found 30 words and phrases from around the world that had good lessons in them, and then wrote about them. Examples of the words and phrases are flaneur (French for wandering to observe), nuchi gusui (Japanese for use food as medicine in living), dominguear (Spanish for doing things associated with Sundays), fredagsmys (Swedish for Friday coziness) and so on. I had heard of a few of these but others were new.

Each word or phrase was translated in a few words at the top of its entry, and then the author went on for pages about her interpretation of how to use it for mindfulness. I really would have preferred just a small bit of text and more about the actual traditions of the people who practice it, rather than lots of talk about what we do wrong in our culture and what we should try doing to go along with that concept. Most entries were pages long and didn't really provide any new thoughts or brilliant ideas. It was just like the author was trying to expand the 30 words into a full book and perhaps she also really likes to talk.

The art was a bit of a miss for me too. I like the illustrations as they're colorful and whimsical, but they seemed better suited to a children's book than a book of wisdom from around the world. And it felt wrong that they were so cutesy pastel European looking instead of matching the feeling and place of the culture they reflected. The illustrator tried to make each entry look like the region (for instance, for a Navajo word she did two pages of a pastel desert looking scene) but it didn't reflect the actual colors and style of each region so it just felt off to me.

I did like some of the words and phrases and would like to learn more about them, but I didn't really care for all the padding and rambling. It didn't feel as if I got a good idea of how the people themselves would explain each concept. It's also really hard to do a book like this and not have it feel like cultural appropriation to an extreme. The author tried to be respectful, but it did feel like playing philosophical tourist in 30 cultures, led by two white ladies as tour guides in the text and illustrations.

All that said, it is a cute book that many readers are likely to enjoy. There's a big trend right now of trying to get wisdom from phrases in other cultures. Look at all the hygge books and a recent one of flaneuring. This makes a nice addition if you like those types of books, and folks who like mindfulness books are likely to enjoy this one. Lastly, fans of Amelia Flowers' art will be happy, as the book is packed with her illustrations throughout.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

This is a delightful little book filled with ideas from around the world to practice mindfulness. I loved the idea of taking this singular focus and looking at ways that different cultures apply it. It is a perfect introduction to a lot of practices with descriptions and how-tos. A reader can then research any of these ideas further if they want more details and background. The illustrations make this a fun book to flip through and engage with. The Serenity Passport would be a great gift, especially for those who want quick hits of information about being mindful.

It turns out that the whole world is looking for ways to unplug, live in the moment and appreciate the small things. From hygge to lagom, there are names for this practice in every culture. Hayes includes practical exercises from each culture (meditating, forest bathing) to try to help readers find their inner sunshine in an often dark and depressing world

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its focus on serenity, calm & well-being tips from around the world and its lovely illustrations.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea of a virtual trip around the world in specific words. The illustrations were wonderful and the mindfulness tips quite lovely.

Superspeed readers like me can read 150 - 200+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today. LOL			
			
I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.  			
			
From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.			

Discover a calmer way of life with secrets drawn from cultures around the world. 
 
From ancient meditative practices to simple self-care philosophies, throughout history and around the world people have sought ways to live a more balanced life. In our busy, modern lives we are constantly seeking a deeper state of balance and calmness of mind, such as that evoked by the Sanskrit upeksa. Whether you find peacefulness in an afternoon siesta, prefer a calming volta or simply like to grab a beer with mates to unwind as described by the Norwegian utepils, the words in this book will inspire you with new ways to find calm in everyday life. 

Positive psychologist Megan C Hayes reveals the true meaning of each term and shows you how to bring a little more serenity to every area of life.

I expected this book to be extremely crunchy granola but in the end, it was an entertaining read. I will admit that I assumed it would be Aussies and their beloved Foster's or Canucks with their beloved #AndersonCraftAles like me with the mention of 🍺. If you are looking to mellow out or de-stress, this is a great book for interesting ideas that do not cost as much money as a weekend at a Zen Retreat where granola rules supreme.


			
As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use by "Social Influencer Millennials" on Instagram and Twitter) so let's give it some good old #peepsporter (it was amazing!) 🍺🍺🍺🍺

I loved the pretty cover to this book and the thought of gathering intel on the mindfulness habits of other cultures around the world. I thought the book had cute illustrations and the overall concept of a passport around the world was cute. I love that it is set up in little sections based on what the mindful habit is perataining to. It was a nice book and would make a great addition to a coffee table.

This is a beautifully illustrated interesting book. It was intriguing to learn more about mindfulness. As a sufferer of chronic pain I am open to learning about new ways of coping with it. This book has definitely given me some ideas. I will be recommending it to some friends as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I adored this title and will be using many of these words as mantras during my meditation practice.  Although an English speaker by birth, we do miss some of the most beautiful nuances in translation.  I was eager to learn more about serene and mindful things and the words given were simply beautiful.

I had read the Happiness Passport and enjoyed learned the words from around the world and enjoyed the quaint art. The Serenity Passport ups the game. Words are still the main feature but the author also included activities to help with serenity each themed with the current word.
I enjoyed this book and it would make a great gift for anyone trying to take a deep breath.

A beautiful journey across the world via 30 words.
The book is an exploration of wellness and mindful  habits and customs from different countries across the world.

From meditation to siesta breaks, from yoga to Sunday strolls, the book introduces the readers to positive ways to reconnect with the inner-self.
A great way to learn and explore cultures, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and  easy examples suggesting to try something new.

Upeksha - the sense of equanimity is my favourite word from this brilliant book. I loved how beautiful the illustrations were. This book is as much about reading as it is about watching the illustrations. The pictures are indeed worth a thousand words each. They are absolutely lovely and worth the price of the book alone. I want to buy one in glossy hardcover.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.

This book was absolutely adorable! Charming illustrations alongside interesting cultural histories and practical suggestions of techniques to try to calm down. I will be trying them all!

A beautiful book calming inspiring.Thirty words thirty ways to focus be mindful of all we do our lives and interactions.The sketches were lovely a book Inwill go back to and will gift to friends,##netgalley #quartobooks,

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group White Lion Publishing for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘The Serenity Passport’ written by Megan C Hayes, Ph.D with illustrations by Amelia Flower in exchange for an honest review.

It is subtitled ‘A world tour of peaceful living in 30 words’ with chapters covering Focus & Awareness, 
Body & Wellness, Habits & Rituals, Rest & Relaxation, and Patience & Pose with each section assigned six words.

This was such a pleasure to read with bright, colourful illustrations throughout. It contains many suggestions for increasing serenity and mindfulness drawn from world cultures. It is a very practical book with plenty of exercises scattered throughout. So it’s a book to engage with over time rather than a one-off read through. 

Personally I found myself drawn to the Japanese Shirin-yoku 'forest-bathing' and Finnish Villasukkapaiva, a 'woollen socks' day. 

This is a book that I plan to both purchase for myself and as a gift for friends who are into mindfulness. Finding new ways to promote serenity, peace, and calm seems a positive thing in our increasingly stressful world.

When I started the book, I thought it would be another coffee table book with little to gain from.
But I was pleasantly surprised to have read it. 
It is beautiful book which evokes positive vibes in reader, just effortlessly and cosy illustrations do a wonderful job of proving soothing experience.

It is full of knowledge; it is full of us.
How humans who have segregated themselves based on geography, culture and language ;have few common words and rituals; when they enjoy, connect and search serenity.
How different countries seek serenity and how these words and rituals came into being.
Almost all continents are covered and history of various rituals is fascinating. 
Not at any do you feel bored; while diving in this book.
Artwork is wonderful and writing is enjoyable and rewarding.
A perfect read in times so disruptive; as we are navigating currently.

Thanks publisher for review copy.

First let me say I loved the premise of this self-help book and the illustrations were fantastic. Unfortunately, while the Passport layout was easy to follow and the explanations of the words/themes blended in a cohesive way, I found the content came up short as it read more like Sampler to capture my attention for a future series. I would love to see the author expand on each section in greater detail, perhaps each as it own novel?

Sometimes the world feels chaotic; the reasons why are different for each of us but all of us could benefit from the calming wisdom in this book.  The illustrations are lovely and peaceful and go nicely with the text.  The author has sections on a number of topics including Focus & Awareness, Body & Wellness, Habits & Rituals, Rest & Relaxation and Patience & Poise.  Each section features a number of terms which are expanded upon.  What I particularly liked was that they were linked to sections called Try This which offer ways to put the concepts into practice.  This book is a great companion to any mindfulness app that readers use or may be read on its own.  I rate it highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.  I think that I will buy this one for my home library.

Colorful and peaceful illustrations work well to go along with the text. The book gives us words from multiple languages/cultures that relate in some way to serenity, including information about the word and its usage. Additionally, interspersed are helpful activities to reinforce the serenity theme.

This short book is something one needs to read again and again , slowly understanding each word and practicing the learnings. The learnings are not new, but the words, the calming imagery, and the exercises together make this an essential read. It was fun learning the new terms and the vast meanings behind it.

The author takes concepts from global practices and explains them, often providing ideas of ways to apply them to ones life. The art is bright and cheerful and adds a lot to the words. I was particularly enamored with the Navajo (Diné) word "Hózhó" which focuses on wellness through balanced living, in fact I might make it my theme for 2020. I also love the Swedish cozy word part of "mys" which can be added to any other term to make basically any day cozy (the book specifies "Fredagsmys" and "Yulmys") and "Voorpret," the Dutch term for pre-fun, or anticipation of fun.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves travel, language, or self-care. It's a journey through different cultures that shows just how much we have in common. It is also very helpful to have the book split into five sections/themes (focus & awareness, body & wellness, habits & rituals, rest & relaxation, patience & poise), as well as exercises related to the words that we can try. There was also a very nice list of further readings at the end; we can pick and choose which topics we want to learn more about.  The illustrations make it a beautiful coffee table book, which can also lead to conversations with guests about the words in the book!

In terms of content, most of the concepts can be found in other books on the five themes; if you have been reading up on any of them, there aren't too many new concepts. And this is very much an overview, so if you want to learn more, you will have to find other books on those topics. But overall, it was a very easy read that was inspiring at some points.

The Serenity Passport was a fun. quick little read. With Mindfulness and wellness becoming increasingly popular, this book takes phrases from around the world to communicate different ways to implement wellness into our lives. For such beautifully simple book, the content came up a bit short for me.

I wanted more out of it, but what I feel I got was a cute coffee table read or maybe a cute bookshelf display. I really liked the "Try This" areas on how to implement these ideas into your day-to-day life. Overall, great little read that I would recommend for anyone looking to add a bit of wellness ideas into their routine.

This is a cute little book. I really liked the layout and the break down of it all! I would of liked more tips in each section and then at the end. But overall I loved the break down of each word and then the illustrations were also a wonderful touch! This would make a great little gift book or just a book to have on the shelf to remind you of different ways to relax.