As a culture, we’re starting to pay more attention to our mental health and value it as an important aspect to our overall well-being. I believe this is a good thing! Though, it can be taken too far at times. I’m not here to tell you to “follow your heart” or “manifest the life of your dreams” (sorry if that’s what you were hoping for!) So, what do I mean by “mindfulness” and what does it look like as a Christian?
What is Mindfulness?
While sometimes, mindfulness can involve tactics like meditation, breathing exercises, mental imagery, and more… being mindful refers to a state of mind where you’re aware of your body and emotions. I like this definition given by mindful.org: “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
We can note a few main attributes from that definition:
-Fully present
-Aware
-Not overly reactive and overwhelmed
I don’t know about you, but that sounds those sound like goals to me. I desire to be fully present and aware in all my relationships: with God, my friends, my husband, my children – hey, even strangers! My guess is no one WANTS to be overly reactive or constantly overwhelmed. None of us set out to be the wife snapping at our husbands, or frustrated with our kids because we’re tired, the house is a mess, and we’ve been so busy we haven’t eaten all day. But we’re human, and it happens!
Being more mindful throughout our day can help set the tone for calmer and more intentional interactions.
Biblical Examples of Mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t just a recent movement or trend. God created us as physical beings, with a heart, mind, soul, and emotions. He expects us to care for our whole being. In the Bible, we see examples of people tending to their physical, mental, and spiritual needs.
Best place to start?
Jesus.
When I think about how to live as a Christian in this world, I often look at Jesus’ example during his life on earth. When his ministry was gaining attention and crowds began following him everywhere he withdrew to a quiet place to pray (Luke 5:16). The Bible isn’t specific here as to how Jesus was feeling. Was he overwhelmed by all the people? Was he exhausted physically from all the walking and talking? Did he simply need to talk with his Father? I can’t say for sure, but whatever the reason, he needed some alone time with God. If Jesus, God in the flesh, needs time to himself spent in prayer, how much more do we?
Mindfulness examples modeled: alone time, prayer
Elijah
is another example.
In 1 Kings chapter 19, Elijah has been threatened by Jezebel, and is so overwhelmed by everything going on, that he asks God to take his life. He is met by an angel in his sleep, who tells him to arise and eat. He eats the food provided and rests again. Then the angel awakes him again, telling him to eat and drink and be on his way. Guess what? He did. He got up and “went in the strength of that food for forty days”.
Elijah was in a very real and scary situation. Somebody was after his life. Yet, God met him in his depression. An angel spoke to him, he rested, and ate, and gained the strength to carry on. We might not have angel of the Lord audibly speak to us, but we do have his Holy Spirit to guide us when we are overwhelmed or uncertain of what the future holds. Elijah gained spiritual strength from the encounter with the angel. But, he also physically nourished his body with food, water, and rest.
Mindfulness examples modeled: food, water, sleep, listening to God’s voice
Addressing Believers
Along with these and other real life instances, the Bible talks about the subject in several Scriptures.
Prayer & Meditation
Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Philipians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Proverbs 4:20-22 “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
Psalm 1:2: “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Caring for our Bodies
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
Ephesians 5:29-30: “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.”
Practical Ways to Be Mindful
We can see from these verse that when we care for our physical and spiritual needs, we can be stronger, more at peace, and better able to live into our purpose as Christians. So what are some practical ways we can incorporate mindfulness into our daily lives? Think about it for a second in your own life. What are things that help you truly feel your best? I don’t mean fleeting feelings like from adrenaline rushes, mindless indulgences, or guilty pleasures. I’m talking about things that you incorporate throughout the day that help you best connect with your Creator, creation, and others around you. Here’s a few things that I try to do consistently that help me.
Regular Exercise
I know…I just said I wasn’t talking about adrenaline, but hear me out! Physical exercise is so much more than that. It’s been proven to have a positive impact on more than just your physical health. It affects your emotional well-being as well. Moving your body on a regular basis can help improve your mood, concentration, and alertness level – on top of the cardiovascular and overall physical benefits.
Days that I exercise, especially the days when I’m not “feeling it”… I almost always feel more energetic and emotionally level-headed than when I don’t.
I know there’s some people who love working out and others… not so much. The way that you exercise doesn’t have to look the same as your swole cousin Chad. Find something that you enjoy: dancing, running, walking, lifting weights, biking, swimming, rock-climbing, yoga… It could be as simple as 10 minutes of stretching during the day or a 20 minute walk. It could even be a dance party or “brain break” video with your kids! No one says exercise has to be long, intense, or boring.
If the idea of any exercise at all doesn’t appeal to you, maybe find a way to distract yourself while doing it – listen to some uplifting music or a favorite podcast. Perhaps, invite a friend to join you in the activity so you can focus more on the bonding time. Having an exercise buddy also keeps you accountable – so you’re less likely to talk yourself out of it 😉
Drinking Water
This is, arguably, one of the easiest ones to incorporate into your daily routine – especially for those who “don’t have time” for healthy habits.
Get a water bottle you like that you can easily carry around with you (No, it doesn’t have to be a “Stanley”). If you get in the habit of bringing it with you wherever you go, you’ll naturally drink more water than you were before. If you’re someone who doesn’t like water, doctor it up a little bit. I love adding some ginger and lime juice to mine – with a little ice, it’s super refreshing!
This may seem like a small habit that won’t make that much difference, but your water intake can affect digestion, brain function, weight loss, skin health, joint health, and so much more.
Time with Jesus
Clearly, there’s one thing that’s most important to helping us live as we were created to – our relationship with God. Read his Word and dwell on it. Talk to him throughout your day.
Keeping Jesus at the forefront of our lives is how we can truly gain strength in him, refresh our souls, and experience peace.
Going back to the verse in Isaiah 26, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you”
Perfect peace sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?
Why does it feel so difficult sometimes to carve out time to spend with Jesus, or to keep our minds focused on heavenly things? The enemy is pretty good at distracting us and telling us lies.
If you feel like you don’t have any time to set aside, then start by bringing him into things you’re already doing.
Also, if you think you’re too busy… look back to Jesus’ example during his time on earth. If Jesus (who kind of had a super-important, world-changing purpose) wasn’t too busy to spend time alone with his father, my guess is, you’re not either.
Other Mindful Practices
These are 3 ways that you can be mindful as a Christian to create more impactful interactions with those around you. Here are a few other suggestion of things that can help reset your body and mind when you feel out of sorts:
- Time in Nature (woods, beach, rivers, lake, mountains): Enjoy the beauty of creation, in awe of the Creator.
- A Hot Shower: a few minutes to reset, as the water washes away your worries, and you can clear your head without the distractions of technology, other people, or responsibilities.
- Journaling/Brain Dumping: Write down what’s in your head or on your heart. Sometimes just getting it out there on paper helps it from cluttering your mind.
- Creative Outlets: Use your God-given talents and interests. When we lean into who God created us to be, we can feel a close connection with him. Some that I enjoy are writing, baking, and drawing with my kids.
- Time with a Life-Giving Friend: Spend time with a friend you can be 100% authentic with, someone who listens without judgement, and can lift you up and encourage you. “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul”
All of these things sound nice, right? If we could, we might want to do all of them everyday. You might be thinking, “But Tori, you don’t know how busy I am! I don’t have time for all of that!”. Trust me, I get it. You don’t have to do all of these things everyday… mindfulness, like any good habit, takes practice. Start by trying to incorporate one of these, and see if it makes any difference. When possible, I like to combine some of these things I know are good for me 🙂
For instance:
-Exercising, in nature, with a good friend. That’s a 3 for one that’s truly refreshing! (Exercise + Nature + Life-giving friend)
-A walk by the river spending time in prayer and God’s creation (Nature + Alone time in God’s presence).
-Writing out scripture in a pretty and creative way (Time in God’s word + Creative outlets).
Begin paying attention to how you’re feeling -physically and mentally throughout the day. If you are easily frazzled, irritated, or have low energy – maybe try to take a quick step back if possible, and do something you know will help. It can make a world of difference!
Talk About It:
Let me know what some of your favorite mindful practices are! How do they help improve your overall state of mind and your interactions with others? How do you think mindfulness plays a role in the Christian life?
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