Power of Prayer and Mindfulness During Our Darkest Days
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It’s winter. The days are long. And dark. With Christmas coming, stress tend to be high. When the days are dark and long, and stress is high, emotions are on overdrive. The power of prayer and mindfulness during our darkest days is extraordinary. These are tools that should be overfilling our wellness baskets. Let’s talk about what you can do to keep these tools in good working order over the holidays and other times of need.
The Neuroscience of Prayer
The scientific study of the nervous system has demonstrated the positive power of prayer on the brain. Andrew Newberg, author and director of research at the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine in Philadelphia, along with other U.S. and Canadian neurotheologians have been studying the neurological effects of prayer and meditation.
Newberg reports that spiritual experiences activate many parts of the brain. He indicates there is increased activity in the frontal lobes (part of the brain in the forehead region and responsible for higher cognitive functioning) and that different types of prayer may increase activity in areas of language, visualization, emotional and motor centers of the brain.
Studies conducted seem to indicate that prayer does help us manage anxiety and depression in addition to actually boosting the immune system and enhancing other brain functions.
There are several main points of the neuroscience of prayer I want to mention. These are things we need to take hold of during dark times.
Prayer Can Shape Your Reality
According to Newburg, when you focus on something it becomes your reality. This means when you are depressed or angry and spend time dwelling on the things that bring your heart sadness and anger, you will remain in that state. This also means that when you spend time in prayer, the more it is that God becomes your focus, and the more God becomes your reality. Just as someone who spends a lot of time on football or his job. Those things become a focus – the reality. What do you want to spend your time and focus on? What do YOU want your reality to be?
A World Beyond Our Five Senses
“I think we’re wired for the supernatural,” says Newburg, “I think we’re meant to sense a world beyond our five senses.” Neurotheologians can’t prove anyone is truly communicating with God during prayer but they can study the moments of prayer and attempt to understand what is happening from a scientific perspective and what seems to be happening from a spiritual perspective at the same time. They compare feelings (what we sense beyond touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight) with brain physiology. Their studies have indicated there really is more there than the imagination.
A Higher Power
Many people look for a higher power for comfort or answers. There’s nothing wrong with that. I tend to agree with Newburg I guess in that we’re wired for the supernatural. Actually, my personal thoughts add to that in that we are wired for God. In God we find comfort. We find our creator. We find our ‘Higher Power”. In Him, we find our HOPE. No amount of darkness on this earthly life can wipe out that light that will forever shine. Because of that Higher Power of God, there is always light in and after the darkness.
Breath Prayer
While on the topic of prayer, I want to introduce the concept of Breath Prayer. Have you heard of it?
This is one form of prayer I plan on diving deeper into come the New Year. I only say the new year because it’s coming up quickly and I’ve only just begun to really read about it and have barely used it myself yet. But it’s definitely on my agenda.
St. Paul, in the book of Thessalonians, refers to prayer without ceasing. While we can not stand with our head bowed in prayer all day long, there are many methods to keep our mind focused on prayer. I have kept copies of the Jesus Prayer around my house for years as well as wearing prayer bracelets to help me keep this prayer (Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me) in my heart at all times. Breath Prayer is another such method of using this prayer and other scripture verses to pray without ceasing.
Deep breathing is a powerful way to calm the body and mind. Many choose to unite this powerful method with the power of prayer. I’ve read that others use this or other breathing methods with the Jesus Prayer. I chose to purchase a book recently that delves into breath prayer with forms of scripture. Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, And Renew Your Soul discusses the practice and benefits of calm breathing while centering our minds on scripture verses and Christ.
I’m being honest, I’ve only read the introduction thus far and practiced the first 2 or 3 verses while reading the devotional like readings that go with them. I am, however, deeply intrigued and plan to share more at a later date.
The Power of Mindfulness
There’s a lot of confusion and discrepancy with thoughts on what mindfulness is. Even among those that practice it daily and even in definitions given in books and apps about the topic. Some say it is meditation or a form of meditation while some say it is and can be completely separate.
This brings to mind the question of what meditation is?
For me meditation is simply spending time in mindful consideration. It may be simply spending time being mindful of what’s going on around you and lingering in the moments. Sometimes it may be closing your eyes, focusing on your breath, and simply being mindful of your senses. It may be simply spending time with God in quiet prayer that focuses on scripture, a known prayer or quiet thought and LISTENING for His gentle response.
Whatever you call it, there is power in spending time being mindful of your surroundings from a rested state rather than focusing on the negativity, stress or other causes of darkness happening in your life. Taking a few minutes to breathe, feel the ground or the chair beneath you, feel the hard countertop you are leaning against or the keys of the computer board in front of you and listening to the sounds of your breathing, the hum of the heater, the purr of the cat next to you – all of these things bring you more present in the moment and have the power to change your negative thoughts into less anxious thoughts.
Holidays: Putting Prayer, Mindfulness and Meditation in Your Wellness Basket
Morning Routines
I often have prayer and meditation at the top of my ‘wellness basket’.
I try to start my day when I open my eyes or during my morning routine with a few statements of gratitude that goes straight to God usually starting with ‘Thank you God for another day of life’. My morning walk with the dog is heading east into the sunrise with a favorite Orthodox prayer on my lips, “Oh, Heavenly King, the comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere and fillest all things, treasury of blessings, and giver of life, come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, oh good one!”
Then, while walking, I meditate or become mindful of the creation around me- the trees, the sunrise, the clouds, the feel of the pavement under my shoes, the sound of the dog walking in the leaves, the additional sounds of roosters off in the distance. I feel the chill of the air against my cheeks and the feel of the warm collar of my coat around my neck and the warm scratchy feel of the gloves on my hands.
Monitoring my breathing, I use the little bits of breath prayer I have learned or focus on the words of the Jesus Prayer. I talk to God.
These are the things I try to incorporate into a morning routine. They are tools that while not the only thing necessary to ward off darkness or wintertime blues, are a big step in the right direction. These are steps of being mindful of your needs and working towards refocusing your mind towards positivity and finding light within your days.
Through The Day
I try to keep a paper or card near the kitchen sink. On it are the words to a favorite prayer, verse or some simple affirmations that I’m working on. While washing my hands during the cooking process, washing dishes or passing by, I glance at the reminder and murmur the prayer or thoughts as I work in the kitchen.
This is not time consuming. There is no “I don’t have time for that” excuse. You can keep the same verse or phrase on that card for months. All it takes is a desire to do it. You don’t even need the card – it just serves as a reminder as this is a time to practice your prayer or mindfulness to change your thought pattern. Even a small icon, figure of Jesus, or a store bought card with a bible verse can help you with this small mindful habit.
Evening
In the evening, I try to set that last hour before rest as a break from screens and a focus on calm. This is the time I reserve for reading, prayer, chatting with my teenage son and husband, and a last run through my gratitude journal and affirmations of the day.
I suggest challenging yourself to this break from screens before sleep. Choose an act of mindfulness or self-care during this hour instead.
And always, end with prayer upon your lips as you drift off to sleep.
Considerations:
If you’re ‘darkest days of winter’ involve depression, I wish to remind you that this is not medical advice and while prayer and mindfulness are powerful, they should not be your only tools for beating depression. Other things to consider would be dietary needs, natural herbs or supplements, exercise, friends and community, and seeking counseling or medical attention when needed.
Conclusion:
It’s unfortunate that during Advent and the Christmas season, many of us are faced with sadness and even despair. These tools for your wellness basket are an approach to staying self-aware and making sure your holistic health needs are met so that you can still attend to the reason for this glorious season and experience it with joy and gladness. I hope you are able to use prayer and mindfulness to keep the light in your heart and soul during this winter and whatever darkness may come your way. God bless you dear reader.
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