What is this thing called mindfulness and why is it so important?
According to dictionary.com,
Mind•ful•ness:
1. The state or quality of being mindful or aware of something.
2. a. A technique in which one focuses ones full attention only on the present, experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them
b. The mental state maintained by the use of this technique.
According to the Harvard Gazette, “About 47% of waking hours are spent on thinking about what isn’t going on.”
Recently, the word mindfulness has come up a lot in my life, and I’m taking it as a sign from God that I need to become more mindful. I have always heard about how we should be mindful, and I’ve understood on a surface level of why, but I’m learning to understand it on a deeper and more spiritual level.
I often find myself spending a lot of time thinking about my future, past, or random irrelevant things, but these thoughts probably don’t have much value because my brain is stuck everywhere else except where I am in that exact moment. Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” God does not want us to worry about anything whether it be our futures, past, or what we are going to wear tomorrow. This shows that we are not completely trusting him and that he is in complete control. God wants us to focus on the present moment that has Beene eat before us because it is the only one we will ever get. Each moment is one of a kind and so, so precious. We are so good at wasting our time on social media seeking everyone else’s approval when we already have approval from the only one it truly matters. Why is it so hard for us to just focus on what is right in front of us whether it be friends, family, strangers, or al of the above? Do we find these things boring now because they aren’t on a screen?
We were not created to focus on our futures or dwell on what happened in the past, but to glorify God, our creator.
Mindfulness sounds so simple, but it is something you have to train your brain to do. Mindfulness is being still and listening for God’s still small voice. Mindfulness is marveling at God’s creations all around you while you are going for a walk or a run. Mindfulness is intentionally listening to someone. (Without your phone in front of your face). Mindfulness is about paying attention to the details, but not thinking too much into them (which I tend to do too often). Mindfulness is about letting things happen the way they were intended to and not worrying if they go unexpectedly. Mindfulness is focusing on your surroundings: how you’re feeling and what around you made you feel that way. Mindfulness is a different experience for everyone, but it is helping me to open my eyes to what God is doing in my life.
