I first began learning about mindfulness early in my career, and I was immediately captivated. Research consistently shows that mindfulness can reduce anxiety, depression, irritability, and frustration, while also improving our relationships and overall well-being.
Some studies have even found mindfulness to be more effective than morphine in treating chronic physical pain. Brain scans reveal that after just eight weeks of consistent mindfulness practice, measurable changes occur in the brain. The same minds quite literally begin to look different.
That is the power of mindfulness. It does not just change how we feel. It changes how we think, how we respond, and how we live. Knowing this, it is hard not to feel curious about what mindfulness could do for you.
What Is Mindfulness?
Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness and without judgment.
Through specific mental exercises, we train our minds to become aware in a new way. From a young age, we are taught to “do” constantly: to solve problems, meet goals, and stay productive. While these skills are important, they can also cause us to lose touch with something essential: our ability to simply be.
When we live in constant “doing mode,” we become disconnected from the present. We analyze, criticize, and judge every experience instead of receiving it with curiosity and peace. Mindfulness helps us return to presence, receptivity, and awareness.
Mindfulness and the Christian Life
Mindfulness is often associated with Buddhism or Eastern religious practices, but at its core, mindfulness is a well-researched psychological process. It is also different from meditation as many people understand it.
While some forms of meditation focus on emptying the mind, mindfulness does the opposite. It invites us to fully engage with what is present: our thoughts, emotions, sensations, surroundings, and experiences in each moment.
As Christians, we believe God created our minds and bodies. Because of this, mindfulness can be beautifully integrated with faith. When practiced through a Catholic lens, mindfulness becomes more than awareness. It becomes awareness of God’s presence with us here and now. Catholic mindfulness allows us to deepen our relationship with Christ by learning to recognize Him in our daily experiences, struggles, and joys.
A Resource I Love
One of my favorite resources for Catholic mindfulness is Dr. Gregory Bottaro of the Catholic Psych Institute. His books, courses, and teachings have been deeply influential in my own journey, and I continue to learn so much from his work. I want to share these gifts with you as well.If you are ready to explore mindfulness and begin cultivating a more peaceful, grounded life, you can download nine free audio mindfulness exercises instantly HERE. You can use them anywhere, anytime. There is no cost and no pressure. It is simply an invitation to begin living with greater awareness, calm, and trust in God’s presence.
