A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters
Also known as A Liberated Mind
Steven Hayes's book for general readers on ACT's six flexibility skills and their science
At a glance
What it argues
Life is not a problem to be solved, We hurt where we care, Skills against instinct
See all 3Key ideas
Notice thoughts with curiosity, Open to emotions, Attend to the present …
See all 5Examples from the book
A panic attack as the starting point
Read next
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life, The Happiness Trap, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change
See all 3Connections
Steven C. Hayes, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and 3 others
See all 5
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- The originator of ACT explains, for general readers, the psychological flexibility skills behind it.
- Its premise: the problem-solving mind tells us to run from what hurts, but we hurt where we care.
- Running from vulnerability therefore means running from what we care about.
- The book teaches six skills for turning toward pain and toward what matters instead.
- It opens with an epiphany Hayes had during a panic attack.
Why it matters
- For readers who want the big picture of ACT from its founder: why it works, what research says, and how to start using the skills, without a clinical textbook.
Key facts
- Author
- Steven C. Hayes1
- Published
- August 2019 (hardcover); paperback August 20201
- Publisher
- Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House1
- Pages
- 4481
- ISBN
- 97807352140191
- Audience
- General readers2
- Uses claimed
- Mental health (anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, PTSD) and physical health such as chronic pain, per the publisher2
What it argues
-
Life is not a problem to be solved2
We can live full and meaningful lives by embracing vulnerability and turning toward what hurts.
-
We hurt where we care2
The problem-solving mind says run from fear and hurt; but running from vulnerability means running from what we care about.
-
Skills against instinct2
Turning toward pain resists our instincts and programming, so it has to be learned as skills.
Key ideas
-
Notice thoughts with curiosity2
The first of six flexibility skills: watch thoughts rather than obey them.
-
Open to emotions2
Make room for feelings instead of fighting them.
-
Attend to the present2
Bring attention back to what is here now.
-
Perspective taking2
Learn the art of seeing yourself and your thoughts from a wider point of view.
-
Values and habits2
Discover your deepest values and build habits around what you deeply want.
Examples from the book
-
A panic attack as the starting point2
The book begins with the epiphany Hayes had during a panic attack, and mixes moving stories with the history of the science.
Read next
-
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life
Hayes's workbook: the same skills as exercises to do.
-
Russ Harris's shorter, very practical ACT self-help book.
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change
The clinical textbook behind the book, for those going on to practise.
Connections
Written by
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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