Book excerpt: Harness a Calm Focus to Create the Life You Want Gain a greater awareness of self, learn how to solve problems, and achieve the life conditions you desire. Showing you how to employ calm focus—an alert, relaxed, optimal state of mind—The Serenity Solution helps you face difficulties with ease. This clear and effective guide utilizes the strategies that great thinkers, meditators, and problem solvers have worked with for centuries. Discover a variety of easy-to-follow concepts, simple illustrations, and step-by-step exercises to develop insight and concentration. Do away with your negative outlook, and bring better health and relationships into your life. Praise: “This book provides readers with an excellent and gentle entryway into a life of greater inner awareness.”—Amy L. Lansky, PhD, author of Active Consciousness “[The Serenity Solution] teaches how to have a calm mind for observing, evaluating, and solving problems one encounters in daily living.”—Neil W. Crenshaw, PhD, author of You Can Develop Pure Awareness