Genre: Graphic, Non-Fiction, Self help

This is a life-saver, a light-sabre, and a self-love-sayer of a book.

I first heard about this book on Henry Chamberlain’s Comics Grinder blog when he reviewed it here last November. And it was what Henry said about it that encouraged me to get my own copy.

I’m a fan of meditation and have found it to be a bit of a lifesaver in times of serious physical illness, and when coping with anxiety and depression. It has also proved to be a good way of coping with all the everyday challenges and strains too. And for me meditating can be anything from the full on lying down in a quiet room variety to the thirty seconds grabbed in the midst of stress to just focus on breathing. I do what works according to the situation and time available and according to how I’m feeling. For me meditation isn’t about doing it right, or following a rigid daily regime. For me, it’s first and foremost about acceptance; acceptance of yourself and where you are at any given moment.

So I found Sakugawa’s book very appealing. It’s light-hearted in tone, but not frivolous. It’s short and easy to read. There’s no preaching about right ways or places to meditate, just encouragement. Encouragement to take time to just be, to realise you are not your thoughts, that the future can’t be controlled, the past can’t be changed, and to just keep moving forward one small step at a time. And all the helpful words are supported by the author’s  pleasantly quirky drawings.

The book isn’t remotely hippyish or mystical. Sakugawa’s approach is practical, sensible and logical. It deals with anxiety, maintaining self-esteem, coping with physical pain, and sorting out what matters and what doesn’t.

Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or a complete novice or somewhere in between, this is a very helpful cheerleader of a book. And it’s small enough to keep in a bag or maybe a pocket so you can refer to it easily in times of need.

Type of read: Quick, dip-in, easy reference, good in times of need. Good for health and wellbeing.

There is No Right Way to Meditate and Other Lessons is published by Adams Media and is available as a hardcover and as an e-book.