If there was one word that has been tossed around recently, that word is mindfulness. Whether it refers to reducing stress and anxiety, rewiring your brain, or even supporting overall health concerns, experts agree that it is essential these days to be mindfully mindful.
Mindfulness means to pay attention to the present moment without judgment or criticism. It’s being in a state of moment-to-moment awareness of one’s own thoughts and feelings, and accepting these through a gentle and nurturing lens. Think of it as a feeling of coming to our senses, or a waking up so we can train our mind to be more aware and less reactive.
In the spiritual world, mindfulness has a direct connection with spiritual growth. It’s all about deepening the connection with something larger than ourselves, or our heavenly Father. This growth could involve seeking meaning and purpose in our lives, taming our relentless ego, developing those spiritual virtues like forgiveness, gratitude, humility, and love, and finding ways to increase the practices of prayer and service.
Here are 4 ways to practice being mindfully mindful to help us move from an inward awareness to an outward movement on our spiritual journey.
- Take deep breaths and meditate
With all of us moving at a speed faster than the pace of life, we often need to stop, however briefly, and remove ourselves from the craziness of our thoughts. Find a comfy chair, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Use the 8-8-8 rule: inhale through your nose for 8 seconds, hold your breath for 8 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds, hold again for 8 seconds and repeat for several minutes. Think prayerful thoughts of gratitude which can bring inner peace and clarity in your life. This can be your pause button whenever you feel like your world is getting out of control.
- Practice journaling
Write down in a journal what’s on your mind, what troubles you, and the challenges you face. But don’t stop there, write down your blessings and what you are grateful for, as this will eventually shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant in your life. Doing this exercise consistently will lead you to a sense of contentment and joy as you seek spiritual meaning and insight.
- Incorporate contemplative prayer
For those who enjoy the silence of prayer, this is an excellent practice which combines focused attention with a devotional aspect, promoting a deeper communion with God. When the mind is quiet, it is more receptive to what God is trying to say to us. Find how to incorporate contemplative or centering prayer into your day here.
- Do a digital detox
Break the mental grasp of social media by reducing the amount of time spent on these apps. The more time we spent mindlessly surfing, the more it takes our mind off of our baptismal calling. Why? Because we begin focusing on what others have or are doing, making us feel like we’re not doing enough or that we’re not good enough. We need to spend less time being self-centered and more time being others-centered. Set a specific amount of time for your digital indulgences, and stick with that schedule. You will certainly notice a change in your behaviors and actions because of it.
Remember, we are made in God’s image; therefore, we are destined to be like him. This means that we are at our best when we follow Jesus’ example of how he lived and how he loved. We must trust in our heavenly Father that he will help us to be mindfully mindful at all times.
“He wants to be my peace so that nothing can distract me or draw me out of the invincible fortress of holy recollection. It is there that He will give me access to the Father and will keep me as still and as peaceful in His presence as if my soul were already in eternity.” ~St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Being mindfully mindful is all about being fully present and our spirituality directs us to why being here matters. Together, they create a path for us to experience a calming inner peace and a deeper spiritual connection with sacred source of life.
With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life. ~Proverbs 4:23
Need a break from it all? Ever think about living like a monk? Check this out.
