What if we could be present in all circumstances without judgment? What if we could step back from the moment, observe it, and ask God to reveal himself to us? What if we didn't let our emotions drive our thought processes, but gave them a comfortable spot in the passenger seat where they were buckled in, but not directing?
Dr. Regina Chow Trammel works with social work students at Azusa Pacific University and counselors in training and she has been studying the overlap between mindfulness and Christian practice. There is in fact space for a faithful Christian to pause and enter a mindful state in order to listen for God's voice. We promise this isn't wonky, in fact it echoes meditation and welcoming prayer that Christians have practiced for centuries. If you ever wondered if Christian faith and mindfulness go together, this is the episode for you.
The Brain Game is the series we're in. We hear a lot about neuroscience these days and want to know how all of the new research and findings connect to our faith. They aren't siloed topics, but helpful information that inform each other. In this conversation we talk about our trauma responses, the vagal nerve, and the parasympathetic nervous system. All of these physical responses impact our emotional responses and vice versa. As we practice mindfulness we are able to slow our racing thoughts down so our bodies can relax and we can more objectively observe our situations. It's a beautiful thing.
So don't wait. Take a deep breath, be mindful of where you are and how you're feeling, and push play on this episode.
Mentioned on the show
Regina's book A Counselor's Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in Biblical Practices and Theories written in partnership with John Trent
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
Lectio 365 app
Pray As You Go app
John Trent Interview on The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast
Memorable quotes
“Mindfulness is a practice of joy, not happiness or toxic positivity, but joy.”
“A Christian definition of mindfulness: Paying attention to the current moment, inviting God into that, and abiding by his voice in that moment.”
Thank you to our sponsor
In week two of our series, The Brain Game, we are exploring the neuroscience of thinking on the good and wonderful. For many of us this is not our natural state of mind. We prepare ourselves for the worst and wait for the proverbial “shoe to drop.”
But what if we did the exact opposite of that? What if we instead expect the good and hold the posture of positive anticipation? Nicole Zasowski, a marriage and family therapist, joins us to explore practices such as thankfulness, celebrating others, savoring, and honest communication.
This episode will help change your mindset and in doing so, may alter the way you live your life.
Connect with Nicole on her website or Instagram
Nicole’s Book What If It’s Wonderful?
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THIS EPISODE:
The Hedonic Treadmill – what it is
Winning the War of Your Mind by Craig Groschel
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Brene Brown: Why joy is vulnerable – On Foreboding Joy
Join Our Newsletter - we want YOU in the Sisterhood!
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Dr. Thompson is a practicing psychiatrist who writes and teaches about how neuroscience can better help us understand how we function in the world. He also is a practicing Christian and explains how spiritual practices are in fact tapping into the brain in a way that helps us tell these more complete stories.
With humor and insight Curt Thompson reminds us that God doesn't expect perfection from us, in our work, our relationships, and especially our parenting, but he does want us to be present and redemptive in our actions. Being together in life, fully known by others, allows us to experience a full life of love and hope.
Dr. Curt Thompson’s books:
The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves
The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community
Curt’s podcast Being Known
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
We are wrapping up our Raise Boys, Change the World series today with a Sister Straight Talk with Krista and Alex. They discuss the most important lessons they learned from the guests on this series as well as their own insights about raising boys.
The topics range from fatherlessness to allowing boys to grow in independence to how to connect better with our sons. If you care about a young man in your home, your family, your church, on your team, or in your neighborhood, this episode is for you!
We are wrapping up our Raise Boys, Change the World series today with a Sister Straight Talk with Krista and Alex. They discuss the most important lessons they learned from the guests on this series as well as their own insights about raising boys.
The topics range from fatherlessness to allowing boys to grow in independence to how to connect better with our sons. If you care about a young man in your home, your family, your church, on your team, or in your neighborhood, this episode is for you!
SOME THINGS YOU HEARD ON THE SHOW
Dr. Anthony Bradley Heroic Masculinity
Raising Sons of Promise by Rolund C Warren
James Clear Atomic Habits
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR
We believe the goal of therapy is to increase both psychological and spiritual wholeness, and this can only be accomplished in an appropriate environment.
We have also seen proven success in the affordability and convenience of online mental counseling. By bringing together a network of professional counselors who are practicing Christians online, we see unprecedented opportunity to help believers access the help they need, when and how they can best receive it.
Sign up for Faithful Counseling HERE.
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