A Place For Mindfulness In Christianity

Mindfulness is different from other forms of meditation. Mindfulness is about being aware of your surroundings and knowing what is going on around you, within you, and outside of you moment by moment. Mindfulness also helps you to observe your own thoughts and feelings.

According to Psychology Today, when you’re mindful you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance while staying focused on purpose without judgement of experiences being either good or bad.   It might include using all of your five senses to help you be aware and help you stay alert to what is happening around you and to you.  Mindfulness is about being present.

When are we not mindful?

Many of us operate on autopilot with our daily routines and usual surroundings not noticing what is really going on around us.

One example – Watching the footy on television can have us eating popcorn robotically without us even noticing how much we are actually consuming.

It is in those situations that we are not present where we can cause harm to ourselves.  We can even drive our cars on autopilot when we’re focused on other things. Being mindful would mean that we would notice everything.  It’s about being alert to everything that is going on around us and within us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Worrying about the past or the future can be counterproductive and even cause some of us to lose sleep.

Mindfulness in Therapy

Particularly useful for those who would disassociate from their present environment and is used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for the treatment of depression.  Generally used for preventing relapses of depression, mindfulness and mindfulness meditation can teach a person to be mindful of every thought & teach them to also tolerate the thoughts without responding or reacting to them.

It can help reduce stress with relaxation techniques that can be used in part as a treatment.  It can help people bring their focus back to the present to keep them present.

Mindfulness in Christianity

More and more Christians are finding the practice of mindfulness valuable and are comparing it to meditation and thoughtfulness. Christians  have often thought of the practice of mindfulness as a Buddhist practice.  However mindfulness is a technique for bringing awareness to thought and is a powerful, inexpensive and useful tool for stress reduction.

Mindfulness allows the Christian to practice their own faith. For example, instead of focusing on breath or the wind, it allows you to focus on scripture or meditate in prayer. It also allows you to listen to your body and to look after the temple in which your soul and spirit resides.

“Our bodies are wonderful gifts. They talk to us all the time and tell us when they are out of balance or when certain parts need attention. When we allow space to connect with our breathing and our physicality, we allow ourselves to truly see and hear what our bodies are trying to tell us. This allows Christians more clarity and power to help nurture the container of the soul. It also provides more strength to literally help you embody your faith.” Eden Koslowski – Can Christians Practice Mindfulness?

Mindfulness in the bible – live in the present as each day brings its own sets of challenges.

‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.  Mt 6:25-34

Any person can practice mindfulness, irrespective of their religion or lack of religion as is described on an excerpt by Amy Julia Becker on christianity today, she writes:

“There’s a time and a place for self-care, and maybe it’s helpful to call such attention “mindfulness.” That three-week eating and exercise challenge jolted me into practices that have become easy to sustain without having to think about it, journal about it, and emote about it all the time. And those practices should lead me to a healthier body for a longer time—more able to love and serve others.”

Sandra Ciminelli
Cred. Dip. Couns. (Christian)

Sources:

Christianity Today: Has Mindfulness Supplanted Thoughtfulness
Psychology Today: Mindfulness
Wikipedia: Mindfulness in cognitive behavioural therapy. 
Huffington Post:  Eden Koslowski – Can Christians Practice Mindfulness?

Where to Get Help

Talk to your doctor and see a mental health professional.
Visit CCAA to search for a Christian counsellor near you.
Visit ACA to search for a counsellor near you.

Studying at aifc

Have you thought about counselling?   It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God’s love and grace to the hurting out in the community.

For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:

–The beginning of each year in February
-Mid-Year courses commence in July

Enrolment Season – opens approximately 2 months prior our courses commencing. Enquire now and fill out the form with your details to receive course information by email.  Enrol online here during our enrolment season.

Those living overseas can study aifc’s courses via our Distance Based Program.
The International  Student Program,  enables those with a student visa to Study On Campus in Sydney.

Note: A Master of Counselling course was introduced in 2018.

Contact aifc Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm with your enquiries on 6242 5111 or toll free on 1300 721 397