The idea of mindfulness is simple, but it’s easy to forget to put it into practice. In Happiness: The Mindful Way (DK/Penguin Random House, 2015), consultant Ken A. Verni, Psy.D., provides solid strategies to cultivate awareness and stay in the moment. Trained under the renowned Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., Verni guides readers through exercises aimed at coping with anxiety and breaking bad habits, including habitual responses and routines that have developed over time. The key is to purposely pay attention in the present moment—without any kind of judgment. Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhism, a belief system that goes back more than 2,000 years, and those teachings provide a foundation for facing present-day challenges. It’s a reminder for us all to slow down and focus on being instead of doing.