Introducing Mindfulness Into Spiritual Journey | Denise Murray
In our home, raising my three children often brings about a whirlwind of random circumstances and high-strung emotions on a daily basis. Rarely is there a middle road when inevitably one, some, or all of us are coming in hot along the road to escalation. We’ll suffice to say that we are passionate people in relation to our beliefs. Developing, sharing, and defending our informed decisions from reliable sources comes with merit. However, there are also times where we’ve also explored the fine art of letting go. Advocating strongly for the right to stand up in defense of ourselves and those in need of our support, conversely, our silence speaks volumes.
Serving to instill a means of gauging our intrinsically valuable investment of our personal time and passion into the affairs of the world around us, mindfulness has been an epic asset in our lives. Aren’t we always mindful? Surprisingly, we are often overwhelmed by our lifestyles, in many events diverting our attention to managing multiple tasks simultaneously. Engaging in the act of multitasking sabotages the flow of mindfulness. To better demonstrate this concept, let’s first define mindfulness.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is Noble whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever; if anything is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
What is Mindfulness?
Simply defined, mindfulness is when we focus our awareness by directing our attention to only what we are currently experiencing within our environment. Concentrating our undivided attention on observing our present thoughts, feelings, and environment, in the very moment, is a reflective process. Often paired with other spiritual or self-care activities, mindfulness helps improve well-being, as well as reduces stressful feelings.
Gaining mainstream popularity, increasing numbers of families, schools, and workplaces factor in time for mindfulness activities to build a climate of consciousness. Will there still be whirlwind moments? Absolutely! My goal in holding space for mindfulness is to build self-confidence, decrease anxiety, boost focus, and enhance conditions for learning and social skills.
What is Meditation?
Meditation traditionally stems from religious or spiritual practices for some practitioners, including Hinduism and Buddhism. However, much like mindfulness, meditation can also be practiced without connection to any particular religion. Modern society embraces meditation as a useful tool for diminishing stress, increasing focus, and improving overall wellness.
Is Mindfulness Meditation?
Meditation and mindfulness are both closely related, yet differ in nature. Meditation generally involves focusing our minds on one particular object, thought, or event to improve mental clarity and reduce levels of stress. Following a set meditative practice often involves setting aside time for an intentional, structured methodology.
On the other hand, mindfulness represents our state of active attention in the present moment, noting our thoughts, feelings, and sensations in a non-judgmental manner. Freely engaged in at any time, mindfulness is easily personalized to also be incorporated in scripture reading, journaling, cooking or walking. Long story short, mindfulness can be considered as an element of meditation, however, meditation is not necessarily an element of mindfulness.
Mindfulness in Your Spiritual Life
Introducing mindfulness into your spiritual life can happen in a variety of ways. Always keep in mind that mindfulness is a skill to be fine-tuned with patience, consistency, time, and practice. Developing personal modifications of one or more of these techniques into your daily routine is for you to decide. These are a few ideas-
Mindfulness
Focus on giving attention to your awareness and only what you are experiencing in the moment without forming any judgments.
Body Scan
Comfortably sitting or laying down, bring attention to each part of your body, gently releasing any observed tension.
Mindful Breathing
Clear your mind to focus only on inhaling and exhaling deep breaths, aware of air moving in and out of your body.
Creative Visualization
Envision personal images, events, or concepts from your imagination to cultivate a relaxed state of mind.
Gratitude Awareness
Reflect on gratitude for your blessings, appreciation for kindness, and positive thoughts of compassion.
Mindfulness Prayer
“I am most grateful to be blessed to have this moment to experience the many blessings life has provided for me today. I appreciate all that has come and eagerly ask for the wisdom and guidance I need to discover my inner peace and joy to share with others.
Please still my mind to let my spirit and breath align as I remain present in this time and space. I ask that you ease any worries or anxiety from within me to allow peace to fill my life. Keep me mindful of my actions to allow me to grow in grace to become more mindful of my feelings and of those around me as a become of faith.”
Denise Murray
Denise is Creative Director and Consumer Journalist with Creative Learning Center Studios. Her creatively curated content focuses on family life and style, parenting, education, green living, and healthy lifestyles. She lives in the scenic Hudson Valley of Upstate NY with her children and their two rescued cats.