lifecoachingforwomen

Soulful Serenity! The Art of Mindful Prayer!



Staying on track with mindfulness is a powerful tool for maintaining focus, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. To cultivate mindfulness, it's essential to regularly set aside dedicated time for practices such as meditation, prayer, or deep breathing exercises. This deliberate commitment to mindfulness allows you to develop the skill of observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. 

Furthermore, integrating mindfulness into your daily life by practicing awareness during routine activities like eating, walking, or working can help you stay attuned to the present moment. Consistency is key; by making mindfulness a regular part of your routine, you can foster a greater sense of inner calm, improve your ability to concentrate, and better navigate life's challenges with a clear and centered mind.

The concept of mindfulness as it is understood in contemporary psychology and meditation practices is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, there are biblical verses that touch upon the themes of being present, focused, and attentive in a spiritual context. 

One such verse is found in the New Testament, in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8 (NIV):
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

While this verse doesn't use the term "mindfulness," it encourages believers to direct their thoughts and attention toward positive, virtuous, and uplifting things. It underscores the importance of maintaining a positive and focused mindset, which aligns with some of the principles of mindfulness practices aimed at cultivating awareness and presence in the present moment.

Practicing mindfulness through prayer can be a deeply spiritual and enriching experience, combining the benefits of mindfulness with a connection to one's faith. Here are steps to practice mindfulness using prayer:
  1. Select a Quiet Space: Find a quiet, peaceful space where you can pray without distractions. This can be a designated area for prayer or any place where you feel comfortable and focused.
  2. Choose a Prayer: Select a prayer that is meaningful to you. It can be a traditional prayer from your religious tradition or a personal prayer that reflects your thoughts and feelings. The Lord's Prayer, the Serenity Prayer, or the Prayer of St. Francis are examples that many find suitable.
  3. Set an Intention: Before you begin, set an intention for your prayer. This can be a specific concern, a desire for guidance, or simply the intention to be present and mindful during your prayer.
  4. Focus on Your Breath: Begin by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself. Pay attention to the sensation of your breath as you inhale and exhale. This helps you become present and calm.
  5. Recite the Prayer Slowly: As you recite the prayer, do so slowly and intentionally. Pay close attention to the words and their meaning. Consider how each word or phrase resonates with you personally.
  6. Engage Your Senses: If your prayer includes physical actions, such as lighting a candle, holding beads, or making specific gestures, engage your senses fully. Notice the texture, color, and scent of the objects you are using.
  7. Stay Present: If your mind starts to wander, gently bring your focus back to the prayer. It's normal for thoughts to arise; the key is to acknowledge them without judgment and return to the prayer.
  8. Reflect on the Prayer: After completing the prayer, take a moment to reflect on your experience. How did it make you feel? Did you gain any insights or clarity?
  9. Express Gratitude: If your prayer includes expressing gratitude, take time to think about what you are thankful for. This can help foster a sense of mindfulness and appreciation.
  10. Practice Regularly: Like any mindfulness practice, consistency is essential. Try to incorporate this mindful prayer into your daily or weekly routine, adapting it to your needs and schedule.
Mindful prayer allows you to deepen your spiritual connection while also reaping the benefits of mindfulness, such as reduced stress and increased mental clarity. Over time, you may find that your prayer practice becomes a source of inner peace and strength in your life.

While meditation seems a little "woo woo" to some meditation is mentioned in the Bible. Biblical meditation is a spiritual practice rooted in the Christian faith that involves deep contemplation and reflection on specific passages, verses, or teachings from the Bible. Unlike some Eastern meditation practices that focus on emptying the mind, biblical meditation involves filling the mind with God's word and seeking to understand it more deeply, apply it to one's life, and connect with God on a personal level.

Here are key elements and practices associated with biblical meditation:
  1. Selecting a Scripture: Biblical meditation typically begins with selecting a specific passage, verse, or theme from the Bible. It could be a verse that speaks to a personal issue, provides guidance, or offers comfort.
  2. Quiet Reflection: Find a quiet and contemplative space where you can focus your thoughts without distractions. This might be a dedicated prayer space or simply a peaceful environment.
  3. Repeated Reading: The chosen Scripture is often read multiple times. Each reading allows for a deeper understanding of the text and a chance for its message to resonate more profoundly.
  4. Contemplation and Reflection: During meditation, individuals contemplate the meaning of the scripture, seeking insights into its relevance to their life, values, and relationship with God. This may involve asking questions and reflecting on how the passage can be applied to one's daily experiences.
  5. Prayer: Biblical meditation is typically accompanied by prayer. This can involve expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, or asking for wisdom and understanding related to the scripture being meditated upon.
  6. Listening to God: Part of the process is listening for God's guidance or presence in response to the meditation. This may involve stillness and openness to insights or a sense of God's presence.
  7. Application: After meditation, individuals strive to apply the insights gained from the scripture to their daily lives. This might involve making changes in behavior, seeking forgiveness, showing gratitude, or finding strength in difficult times.
Biblical meditation serves as a way to deepen one's relationship with God, gain spiritual insights, and find comfort, guidance, and wisdom within the Bible's teachings. It's a practice that varies among individuals and Christian denominations but shares the common goal of seeking a deeper connection with God through the study and contemplation of His word.

If you would like to know more about how mindfulness can help you on your journey of change, grab my free resource HERE!

If you would like to chat with me over a coffee book your free call HERE!

Essential oils to help with being mindful are HERE!



Have an awesome day!

Change your WORLD!






Meet Kate Penwarn Thompson

 




DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?



You know when you feel you're emotionally strong but you keep struggling with your weight and lifestyle habits? And, you really want to get out of this rut, move forward, and make positive changes in your life. Your deepest desire is to cut loose from emotions that keep you stuck and get moving and doing in a life you love.


Hey, lovely, whether you're struggling with weight, finances, exes, or everyday events, I can help you find your genius talent and have the confidence to get moving again.   We can do this together.


I  help women who are unhappy juggling life and family get back on track in one hour a week with my proven plan of success of using essential oils.

You don’t have to wait……………you can have it all.



My Story:



I've been through many life-changing moves in my life.  It started with getting a divorce more than a couple of decades ago which changed the whole path to my future.  I left my marriage and got divorced when I was twenty-eight years old with two small children.



I didn't have a job, I was a stay-at-home mum. I hadn't been employed in the workplace for nearly five years and the small allowance given by Social Services was not even close to being able to support me or my kids. In fact, I was pretty broke!



The only other income I had was literally singing for my supper. I was a well-known Singer/Actress in a very popular group at the time and if not for a couple of jobs I managed to get every week singing, I'm not sure how we would have survived.



But, instead of getting bogged down wondering how I was going to support myself and my kids, I used my genius talent and left that divorce behind me. It turned out my divorce made me incredibly strong and independent again.  I got moving and doing on to the life I always wanted to create.



I kicked my ex out and started my new life!



I started my new life feeling free even though finances were a bit of a struggle.  But, because I  believed I could make it all work, it did.  Money was not as much as I would have liked, but it was there when I needed it and I was happy. I missed a meal or two, or three or four, but the kids were fed and I needed to lose a few pounds anyway!



After that came lots of changes.  I attracted my soul mate, got married, and became pregnant almost immediately.  When I was seven months along, my amazing hubby left his cushy Public Service job and started a business.  Never regretted it!



A new path began again!



Suddenly, we were generating our own income which should have been a little scary, but once again I always believed we would succeed, and guess what?  We did!



The business was booming and all was well when our worst nightmare came true.  Our business manager spent every penny of the company's money and left the country.  We were back to square one with a huge debt, and now four kids.



Well, with income being very scarce, I decided I needed to earn some income.  I'd only worked as a professional entertainer for years and had let that lapse a bit having had two extra children in the first two years we were married.  I had to work around them, and leave room for amazing hubby to start again as well.



You won't believe my next move!



I decided to become an Avon Lady. You know, ding dong, door to door, selling out of that little book that came out every three weeks! I think my hubby rolled on the floor laughing, but not for long. You see, I believed I would succeed and succeed I did.  I put my genius talent to work again, and in three months I was one of the top three sales representatives in the State.



Within six months, I was asked to be a Stand-In Manager and manage an Avon District for a Manager on leave.  About twelve months into my little adventure, I was hired by Corporate Avon in Australia as a Manager with my own District,  salary, expense account, and my own car.  I wasn't bringing home two bob anymore, I was a contributor to the family income.



That was the good part. The hard part was my new District was #Thirty out of Thirty-three in the state.  I had my work cut out for me. Well, I'm here to tell you that in six months my District was #Three and nobody was laughing anymore!



My hubby built another Consulting business while I worked at Avon and we were once again back to being abundant in all areas of our life.  The Law of Attraction and Deliberate Creation in action!  We didn't even know these Laws of the Universe were at work in our lives, we just believed in our genius talent!



The surprise move that came next!



Over the next few years, we were financially stable again and I resigned from what had become a grueling time-sucking job at Avon and moved back into the entertainment industry.  During this time amazing brilliant hubby had come up with the idea to write one of the first Anti-Virus programs for computers in the world.



Well, life got pretty sweet, and we were rolling along on the golf course in Brisbane most days when he asked me about a big surprise move!  How did I feel about moving to America?  I never hesitated.  Woo Hoo! I was totally in. 



We began to pack up what we could take with us, our clothes, furniture, my piano and called the movers.  We rented the house, said good-bye and hubby, myself and four kids with half a suitcase each, boarded a plane one Saturday morning in January to start our new adventure.



Everyone thought we were crazy but I knew this was one of the most amazing kick-butt moves I'd ever made in my life.



Then reality set in and I found another new path!



When I actually moved countries, I had become very successful as both a songwriter and performer in my hometown. It never occurred to me that I would not continue my professional music and acting career, but the struggle to re-establish myself was real and after few years I realized that I had to change paths yet again.



I took a year to just find myself and then a whisper came to my ear about adopting a child that needed a home from foster care.  It moved very quickly from a thought to an actuality.  Within a couple of days, we were in a ten-week course for foster/adoptive parents.  We found pure potential when we had no clue that the ability or desire to do this lay deep inside of us. This became one of the most rewarding and fulfilling journeys in my life.



At the end of that ten weeks, I got a phone call and our new family began.  Twin boys, twenty-months old came for the weekend and stayed forever.  They were the first of about fifty foster children and the beginning of adopting eight children, which includes three sets of twins!



I loved my journey of being a foster/adoptive parent, but our house got full to overflowing, and even though most of our children are grown now, I am still an advocate and resource for Foster/Adoptive Parents.



How I decided to become a multi certified Life/Health Coach.



Many of our new children had been born drug and alcohol addicted, so I dealt with many different physical and mental issues that emerged in them as they began to grow up. I spent hours with our children in therapies of all kinds.



While dealing with Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapy, and a few psychiatrists along the way, I learned coping skills for managing different disabilities, and mental illnesses.  I also learned how to have a good relationship with birth families in difficult circumstances.



I also had an older family who was going through teenage years and found myself the local mom and counselor. Many a teenager came into our home crying and left feeling better about themselves and their situation. Although I was technically being a Life Coach to those kids, I didn't officially gain my certifications until much later



In the last couple of decades, I've been constantly changing the path of my life and being successful at doing so. I've also realized that change for some is not easy and making a major move in life can leave you overwhelmed, and exhausted, unable to deal with the feelings around it.



I've also worked with foster and adoptive parents for the last twenty years, who also have to move on when a child is moved to a different placement, and their feelings are very similar to the emotions surrounding any life change.



As well, I've since been touched by divorce in my older adult children's lives.  The biggest stumbling block they've had is moving on to their new life after divorce.



As I 've been there supporting them through their pain, I realized that I wanted to help others find their genius talent to get doing and moving and get their emotional energy flowing again. Through coaching, especially Seven + Seven Essentials, I love seeing them find their new life of joy and happiness.  I love working as a coach alongside essential oils, as the breakthroughs come so much faster when the power of oils is added.  

As a certified Aroma Freedom Technique Practioner, I have not only found the power of healing the mind with oils, but also healing the body.  

I'm a certified Life Coach in Causal Coaching, Law Of Attraction, Money, Health, and Essential Oils. I find that most women who have left marriage not only have emotions surrounding it but quite often now battle with their health and their finances. I triumphed over all of these issues, I moved on and never looked back. I can help you.



Where I am today.



Today, I am a confident mother of twelve children, a partner to an amazing man, and stepping out into everything the Universe and God have for me.  I value myself as a businesswoman, a wife, a mother, and no longer fear a change in direction.  I embrace all parts of me, creative, physical, mental, spiritual, and nourish each part of myself, with self-coaching, nutrition, and the power of essential oils.



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