chapter 10
Making a Habit of
Mindf ulness and
Emotion Regulation
W
e know, both from our own experiences and from
the experiences of people we have worked with,
that it’s easy to dwell in guilt, regret, sadness, or bitterness
(past- focused emotions) or stress, anxiety, worry, or tension
(future- focused emotions). Unfortunately, spending too
much of our lives outside the present moment adversely
affects our well- being and ability to f lourish. Throughout
this book, we have presented scientifically based ways that
emotion regulation and mindfulness can positively inf lu-
ence your life. Although none of the strategies and tips will
cure your anxiety, all of them, when used consistently and
reliably, will help you achieve a productive balance by f lexi-
bly managing your emotional experiences and meaningfully
reducing your anxiety. To what degree these ideas and tips
will promote change in your life depends entirely on your
commitment to the work. We haven’t intended to suggest in
any chapter that emotion regulation and mindfulness efforts