Daily Meditations For Calming Your Angry Mind

Jeffrey Brantley, MD, is a consulting associate in the Duke department of psychiatry, and founder and director of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program at Duke University’s Center for Integrative Medicine. He is the author of several books including True Belonging and The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook.

Wendy Millstine, NC, is a freelance writer and certified holistic nutrition consultant who specializes in diet and stress reduction. With Jeffrey Brantley, she is coauthor of the Five Good Minutes® series.

“In this book, Brantley and Millstine go beyond the usual ways we think about anger, and bring new depth to the subject. They are masters at providing astute and warmhearted guidance for working with this difficult emotion.” — Sasha Loring, MEd, LCSW, author of RELIEF: Release Stress and Harmful Habits and Awaken Your Best Self and Eating with Fierce Kindness

“Using personal portrayals and easy, practical exercises anyone can do anytime, this encouraging handbook teaches us how we can mindfully transform the destructive flames of anger into the alchemical fires of profound healing and liberating joy! A true gem and ‘must-read’ for those who wrestle with anger, for the professionals who offer support, and for all of us as we experience the very real and profoundly human emotion of anger.” — Maya McNeilly, PhD, licensed clinical and health psychologist, and MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine

“Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine offer their readers a treasure trove of resources for understanding and befriending the difficult emotion of anger. Infused with the wisdom of their own life practice, the book is filled with meditations that help cultivate mindfulness, cool the fires of anger, open the heart with compassion, and transform one’s relationship to life.” — Phyllis Hicks, psychotherapist, meditation student, and teacher

“The authors profound respect and compassion for people, in our beauty and our pain, shine through these writings. The practices are skillfully presented. They are simple, doable, and deeply effective.” — Kim Warren, MA, MS, meditator, small business owner, and caregiver

“This clear and accessible guide reflects the decades of personal and professional experience of a key leader in the field of mindfulness as he offers simple and skillful ways to work with anger. Mindfulness professionals will appreciate his fresh perspective on classic mindfulness teachings. All looking for another way to work with forms of anger, ranging from the simmering of irritation to the large flames of rage, will learn how to transform these fiery energies without being burned. The specific, practical examples offered instill the reader with courage and confidence to experiment with new approaches to this challenging mind state.”   —Julie Kosey, MS, PCC, RYT, professional certified coach, mindfulness and yoga teacher, and founder and owner of Mindful Moments, LLC

“If you yearn for understanding of your anger, this book is like a clearing in the middle of a chaos, arising from much experience, deep kindness, and care in skillful presentation. It guides you in disengaging from anger, shows you how to cool down these sensations, and teaches you to transform any strong emotions over time. In the process, you find a way to your inherent goodness, learn to embrace impermanence, and transcend the commonly held ideas of healing and peace.” — Riitta H. Rutanen Whaley, MS, MSPH, founder of Yoga for Life, LLC; certified yoga teacher (RYT); and MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine

“In their latest companion book, Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine share their personal experiences and insights about how to gain greater clarity and control over anger through mindfulness. Well organized, clear, authentic, and practical, I highly recommend this book as a skillful means to learning how to approach anger without fear, but rather with kindness, curiosity, and compassion.” — Jeffrey M. Greeson, PhD, MS, assistant professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine

“It has been said that dealing with anger can be like holding on to a hot coal. We may be right, but it is us suffering the damage. In this book, the authors share skills of mindfulness and practical wisdom that they have developed from years of meditation practice and helping people with difficult life experiences. Here are real ways to let go of anger and become more free.” — Jon Seskevich, RN, BSN, CHTP, award-winning nurse clinician, pioneer in holistic nursing and integrative healing, and adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina, School of Nursing

“The authors provide a welcome addition to the emerging applications of mindfulness by offering a practical blueprint for transforming the challenging emotion of anger into greater wisdom, mercy, and well-being. Practices designed to enhance attention, compassion, and insight gently guide the reader through the ‘doorway of anger’ toward a deeper understanding of its causes and conditions. This book brings to light the power of mindfulness to move one beyond the constrictions of anger and toward greater freedom and interconnection with all of life as it is being lived, moment by moment.” — Ron Vereen, MD, psychiatrist in private practice, Durham, NC; consulting associate in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University; MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine; and cofounder of the Triangle Insight Meditation Community