“A spirituality built on trust trusts even time to be an appropriate occasion for the divine breakthrough, for hope to emerge.” Matthew Fox, Original Blessing
Last November, I heard someone speak at my church about the power of the present moment. The speaker asked us to write down whether we focus on the past, present, or future. I wrote down “future” because I am a very future-focused person. She tallied it up and found that most of us in that room focused either on the past or the future.
The past is yesterday. We can’t change one damn thing about it. The future is tomorrow. Despite all of our careful preparations, things may not go as planned. The present moment is now. If we focus on the past or the future, we forget about now. We lose out on so much. We feel either regret for the past or worry for the future. But if we focus on the present moment, we have peace.
Conscious living means living in the moment. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), says, “Developing skill in facing and effectively handling the various ‘weather conditions’ in your life is what we mean by the art of conscious living.” In other words, by learning to focus on the present, we learn to better handle the changing circumstances of our lives.
The benefits of present-moment awareness outweigh any supposed benefits of focusing only on the future. Spiritual and emotional growth will not occur when we hyper-focus on tomorrow. I’m reminded of a verse in the Bible that proclaims, “Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Notice it does not say, “Tomorrow is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow may not come for we are not guaranteed one more day, but we are guaranteed this very moment.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is another word for present-moment awareness. The American Psychological Association defines it as “awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings.” Mindfulness has many mental health benefits. It can “improve cognitive function, resolve emotional exhaustion, and reduce perceived stress,” according to an article published in the International Journal of Social Sciences Review.
Studies show that present-moment awareness has mental health benefits. Here is an overview of three studies:
Researchers studied 143 adults over 20 days to see the impacts of present-moment awareness. They found that those who practiced present-moment awareness responded better to stressful events.
Participants in a nine-week study on mindfulness reported daily on their emotions. Researchers found a link between practicing mindfulness and positive emotions.
Researchers found that people who practiced present-moment awareness had improved life satisfaction over time.
A study on a group-based mindfulness program found that participants had reduced depression, anxiety, and stress.
After participants took part in either mindfulness training or listened to a recorded book, researchers found that those who received training experienced reduced fatigue, anxiety, and increased mindfulness.
In addition to mental health benefits, focusing on the present has spiritual and relational benefits. When we are aware of the present moment, we also become aware of God’s presence. We can become who God created us to be rather than continue living out of our false selves. I find that in Evangelical churches, prayer as spoken words to God is the emphasis. Hearing someone speak about awareness of God’s presence as prayer is rare. Apostle Paul talked about praying without ceasing, and I believe that is what he meant.
The Practice of Mindfulness
Dialectical behavioral therapy is mindfulness-based and what I am learning from it helps me live more in the moment. However, it is slow going because I have lived in a state of frequent dissociation since I was a toddler. All I can do is keep plodding forward, knowing that I will get where I need to be if I stay on the healing path,
Paying attention to my surroundings is one way I can practice mindfulness, particularly when I am distressed. My therapist mentions it frequently. Using my senses is a great way to self-soothe while being in the moment. For example, if I am outside I can notice that the grapevines are still devoid of leaves, the sky is gray, there is the sound of wind, and the smell of rain. If I am eating lemon squares, I can notice the combination of tart and sweet, the yellow of the bars, and the feel of them in my hands.
Meditation is another way to train the mind to be more mindful. I like to close my eyes and focus on my breathing for 10 minutes. When my mind wanders, I bring it back to my breathing. Not all does that type of meditation teach me mindfulness, but I also learn about my mind. I have a monkey mind like everyone else on the planet. And it’s okay. My mind jumps from thought to thought. When I focus on my breath during meditation, I let thoughts go, which helps me let go of ineffective thoughts when I am not meditating.
How do you practice mindfulness? Drop a comment below.
During May, I will write about the themes in the book, Sifting Through the Ashes: Finding Beauty, Peace, Love, and Strength Through Trauma by therapists, Darla Gale and Alice Rodriguez. The book is free if you have Kindle Unlimited. If you are interested in taking part in a book group that discusses it, message me.
Resources
Original Blessing: Putting Sin In Its Rightful Place by Matthew Fox
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
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The past is history The future a mystery now is a gift that's why it's called the present