Mindfulness

What is Mindfulness and how does it fit with my Christian Faith?

When I trained as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, before becoming a Christian Minister, my practice was largely Mindfulness-based.

Mindfulness isn’t trying to think of not thinking….rather it’s allowing our thoughts so that we might acknowledge them, begin to refocus them and be kind to ourselves for them..making space for what we believe and who we are. Christian Mindfulness can help us to make space for God.

I started practising mindfulness around 8 years ago after my Father died …I found being in the world difficult and particularly my relationships with others became difficult… The Bible tells us that praying should be as natural as breathing, but I think we all know that starting any new healthy habit is tricky!

When I was at my saddest, I found that to focus on my breath at any given moment..for a while…was all I could do… I found myself coping with the harsh realities of life by doing something akin to the deep breathing and panting you are encouraged to do during labour!

I began to handle stress better when I was attentive to my breath, aware of my body, its aches and pains and how I was taking care of myself. I then became more aware of my thought processes and how I had a deeper self-awareness than before.

Mindfulness helps us develop a CREATIVE MINDSET so that we’re able to connect with all the parts of ourselves, to be curious. Life moves from grey to colour as we regain a childlike excitement about life.

So, how does it work? 

If we try not to think, we naturally fail. Instead, we start thinking of all sorts of things…like something a bully said to you twenty-five years ago; the money your ex still owes you, what you want to have for tea…

What we’re really trying to do at first is to become a witness to the serial inner monologue of our LEFT brain where we do all our processing and to try to step to the side, and let the thoughts pass by, moving our attention to our RIGHT brain. I do this by engaging in creative activity. Doodling and colouring in are my favourite distraction...yours might be walking, stretching, dancing, baking, puzzling or journaling.

Right Brain function is the quieter, deeper, dynamic aspect of our brain. It’s the bit that gets pushed away when we’re busy or in routine. We use it every time we notice love, beauty, melody, serenity and joy…when we find we’ve deeply entered into the moment. It’s what actually enables us to be ok.

In finding an easier way of being, we start accumulating awareness, creative energy, appreciation, tolerance and peace. Suddenly, those persistent thoughts have a lot less urgency and importance. We can experience a calm, self-assured presence that’s only possible when we give the crazy person in our heads a few moments off.

Why is colouring good for us?

Colouring and doodling detailed pictures activates and uses areas of the brain that enhance focus and concentration. It also helps with problem-solving and organisational skills. (It is our frontal lobes that are responsible for these higher-level activities and functions of the brain).

Colouring uses both hemispheres of the brain; right and left. When we are thinking about balance and colour choices we are working on our problem-solving and fine motor skills. This is a great tool in rehabilitation or simply self-development. We can start with simple patterns and progress into more complex designs.

Colouring is a mindful practice. It can help us replace negative thoughts with positive and pleasant ones. Doing therapeutic artwork can help reduce feelings of anxiety and unpleasantness.

The focus we place on the project at hand, and on an object can replace negative and unhelpful thoughts from entering our minds. The step of acting and doing vs. observing is a way to stop focusing on physical or emotional pain.

For many of us...boredom, lack of structure, and stress are the greatest triggers we have. It might be that we have some level of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, stress, depression, eating and binge eating issues, anger management issues or are dealing with substance abuse.

The time and focus that adult colouring takes helps us remove the focus from the negative issues and habits, and focus them in a safe and productive way.

Colouring doodles helps us gain a sense of choice and control, it can be calming, help us to problem solve, focus and organise our thoughts.

Try one out and you may just surprise yourself. If not, at least you have something pretty to put on your fridge or cover a book!?