Mindfulness and Character Strengths

Ryan M. Niemiec, PhD, PsyD, is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, the nonprofit positive psychology organization that educates people about the latest science and practice of character strengths. He is a licensed psychologist, certified coach, international workshop leader, and is Adjunct Professor at Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. He is co-author of Positive Psychology at the Movies (2008; 2013) and Movies and Mental Illness (2005; 2010). In 2011, Ryan received the Distinguished Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association (Division 46). Ryan has led several hundred mindfulness meditation groups for clinical and nonclinical populations over the last decade, and has delivered mindfulness retreats, seminars, and workshops to a variety of groups including physicians, counselors, religious leaders, and the general public. Ryan created Mindfulness- Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) out of his ongoing passion for the two topics. MBSP marks the first, structured character strengths program. He has enjoyed training the early pioneers in this approach. He is a member of Being Peace Sangha, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. His dharma name, in the Thich Nhat Hanh lineage, is "Fullest Breath of the Heart." He blogs for Psychology Today and PsychCentral, and his work has been featured by a variety of sources including Dr. Oz, USA Today, the Huffington Post, Positive Psychology News Daily, and Greater Good.

Mindfulness and Character Strengths A Practical Guide to Flourishing Ryan M. Niemiec Table of Contents (preliminary) Foreword, Preface Acknowledgements Section I: Primers Chapter 1: A Primer on Mindfulness Chapter 2: A Primer on Character Strengths Section II: Integration Chapter 3: The Integration of Mindfulness and Character Strengths Chapter 4: Practice I: Strong Mindfulness (Bringing Strengths to Mindfulness) Chapter 5: Practice II: Mindful Strengths Use (Bringing Mindfulness to Strengths) Section III: MBSP Chapter 6: Overview of MBSP "Of What Avail Is an Open Eye If the Heart Is Blind" Chapter 7: Session 1: Mindfulness and Autopilot Chapter 8: Session 2: Your Signature Strengths Chapter 9: Session 3: Obstacles Are Opportunities Chapter 10: Session 4: Strengthening Mindfulness in Everyday Life (Strong Mindfulness) Chapter 11: Session 5: Valuing Your Relationships Chapter 12: Session 6: Mindfulness of the Golden Mean (Mindful Strengths Use) Chapter 13: Session 7: Authenticity and Goodness Chapter 14: Session 8: Your Engagement With Life Chapter 15: Additional MBSP Features and Adaptations for Different Settings/Populations Section IV: Resources Appendix A: General Tracking Form Appendix B: X and Y: A Marriage of Character Strengths Appendix C: Mindfulness at the Movies Appendix D: Character Strengths Q & A Appendix E: Website Resources References Index Audio CD Content (preliminary): 1. Introduction 2. Body Mindfulness 3. You at Your Best and Strengths-Spotting 4. Character Strengths Breathing Space 5. Strengths Gatha 6. Loving-Kindness Meditation 7. Strength Exploration Meditation 8. Fresh Look Meditation (reframing problems with strengths) 9. Signature Strengths Breathing Space 10. Best Possible Self