A practical, user-friendly guide for women seeking focus and calm in the midst of life's storms. Overwhelmed by the demands of family, work, and multiple responsibilities, many women find themselves feeling scattered, and distracted. In this eye-opening book, co-founder and CEO of the Mindsight Institute, Caroline Welch takes readers on a mindfulness journey to help them de-stress and cultivate inner peace. According to Welch, you do not need countless hours sitting in silence to be more present in your life--the key is to practice mindfulness wherever you are and whenever you can. The Gift of Presence guides readers in developing four innate capacities we all possess that will allow us to become more resilient and centered in our lives--even when life is throwing all that it has at us: Presence: the ability to remain firmly in the present moment; to be fully aware of what's happening as it's happening. Purpose: the personal meaning that gets us going and gives direction to our lives. Pivoting: an openness to change that allows you to switch direction if that is what is needed. Pacing: the awareness that it is impossible to do everything we want or need to do all at once; the ability to take life one step at a time. This life-changing book reveals that you already hold in your hands the keys to a more harmonious life--you simply need to look within. Reviews and Endorsements: “A gift for us all—filled with practical insights about the power of mindfulness.”
—ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, founder and CEO of Thrive Global “This is an important, eye-opening book. . . . Caroline Welch offers pragmatic mindfulness exercises to discover one’s purpose in life, to summon the courage to change direction if necessary, to set priorities, and to let go of what simply can’t get done in order to cultivate inner peace and harmony.”
—SHARON SALZBERG, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness “In this inspiring guide, Caroline Welch synthesizes wisdom from across cultures and walks of life,
drawing from her own remarkable, yet relatable life and the experiences of dozens of women.”
—ELISSA EPEL, PhD, professor at the University of California San Francisco, and New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Telomere Effect “It’s so easy to forget what matters and race through our decades. Caroline Welch’s wise and clear
book shows us how mindful awareness can give us back our life. This fresh and entirely accessible
guide will help you reconnect to your true purpose, call forth your inner resourcefulness, and
awaken the fullness of your heart.”
—TARA BRACH, author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion “Caroline Welch offers us a timely prescription for vitality and resilience for women—and men—in
an age of distraction, providing a scientifically sound and accessible path to clarity in our busy
lives. . . . This accessible guide harnesses the research findings of how being present with open
awareness can transform your medical health and even slow the aging process.”
—MARK HYMAN, MD, head of Strategy and Innovation at the Cleveland Clinic Center
for Functional Medicine and New York Times bestselling author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and Food: What the Heck Should I COOK? “If you have an ongoing mindfulness practice and especially, if you do not—like me—Caroline
Welch’s The Gift of Presence is the book you didn’t know you needed. It’s like a cup of tea with a
friend on a rainy afternoon—a very wise, gentle, informed friend. You simply walk away feeling
better, glad to have it in your life and looking forward to opening it again and again.”
—SALLY FIELD, actor and author of In Pieces “I am always looking for that one book that can help a regular, busy person understand and
develop a practice of presence, mindfulness, and heartful living. I found it in Caroline Welch’s_
The Gift of Presence.”
—ELIZABETH LESSER, cofounder of Omega Institute and New York Times bestselling author of Broken Open “In The Gift of Presence, you will find permission and support for what matters.”
—JACK KORNFIELD, author of A Path with Heart About the Author: Caroline Welch is the CEO and Co-founder with Dr. Dan Siegel of the Mindsight Institute in Santa Monica, California. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School with a master's degree from the University of Southern California, she started her career in law as a corporate litigator. Welch has served as a Los Angeles County court-appointed mediator, as well as in house counsel at MGM Studios and Spelling Entertainment Group. She began her mindfulness practice forty years ago while working in Japan as an English teacher for three years. Welch provides lectures and workshops to enhance well- being in our personal and professional lives. She and her husband live in Santa Monica with their dog Charlie, and have two adult children. | 
