Comments on: Problems with my mind… any ideas?

By: fran

fran — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:38:36 +0000

Some thoughts on praying throughout the day:
REMEMBER- be present to the Sacrament of the moment. Look for God in all you do – ensure you keep visible reminders(rosary,crucifix)of HIS love in your car, office.
As you become more present in the Sacrament of the Moment – you will feel His presence and thank HIM for the good you do –as HE is the one who gives you those gifts to accomplish your tasks at hand. Thanking God -knowing HIS presence -is a form of prayer.
Recommend you buy “THE BETTER PART” -Christ the Lord, Teacher, Friend, Christ in MY LIFE. Also for iphone download Pray as you GO.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:07:15 +0000

I have the same problem like you, Jackie Parker, which keeps my mind racing in all directions always. At times, I lose track of what I was thinking of just a few minutes earlier. Even when I am having a coversation with someone, I lose track of what I was just saying and it is very frustrating. Even though I have a lot of free time the same distrations hamper whatever I am doing. I lose things, forget what I was doing and I have a hard time remembering names of people I have known all my life.

The agony is when I begin to pray – at times, I feel like all the devils are competing to see which group will keep me off balance better than the other. But I keep on struggling. At times, I have to repeat the prayer I am saying several times. By the grace of God, one day during Confession Jesus (through the Priest) told me not to worry too much about these distractions and wandering throughts. He knows my condition and He is pleased with my gallant efforts and He assists me in the struggle and that is why I continue praying without giving up. Before that loving encouragement, I always felt I was wasting time and God could not accept my confused prayers. I ended by being so depressed at the end of my prayers convinced I will never please God no matter how hard I tried to pray. In turn, the depression aggravated my condition

To all my fellow suffers, God knows our shortcomings – in fact,He know us better than we know ourselves. Therefore,our resolution to perserve and offer the frustrations to Him will help us grow, abeit painfully, in our faith. God bless you, Brother Lawrence for your wonderful Spiritual Direction

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:10:01 +0000

Dear Anonymous,

The purpose of prayer is to grow in union with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer should help you to form an interior attitude that desires that “Thy will be done” (not my will be done).

This conversion to Christ is lived out in daily life with all of its struggle, hardships, beauty and joys. The words and beliefs you hold in your mind and heart cannot be compartmentalized and separated from your actions. We are called to be saints or “spiritual pros”.

It is similar to achieving athletic excellence. A professional baseball player may read many books about how to be a great pitcher ~ almost anyone can think about and understand it ~ but it is quite different to achieve it. It takes a LOT of practice.

Similarly, in your life, if you see everything (good and bad) as coming from Christ then you will view all situations as opportunities to exercise your faith and charity. You will have peace and give witness to others. Your life will be a prayer. It is my opinion that actions speak louder than words. A life well lived is better than a thousand insincere prayers checked off of a “To Do” list.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:45:52 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this! I too struggle with this, and it helps so to know I am not alone. The only thing I think I can add to what has already been suggested, is to seek silence. Over the past years, I now drive in a silent car (when alone) and rarely have the tv on. I listen to radio–but rarely, and then, usually Catholic talk radio. Still, that often puts too many ideas into my head to add to the frenzy already there. This time of year is particularly painful to me as grocery and all manner of stores are filled with “noise”. I avoid as much as possible, though as a busy mom, I cannot avoid them altogether. I think the next step I am being called to is to limit the input into my brain. I am a voracious reader, but really, it just adds more and more thoughts into my already active brain. In the short time I have been working on this (reducing my reading), I do notice a difference. Again, thank you for sharing. I hope you find some help in all the thoughts offered here–by everyone.

By: Gina

Gina — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:31:14 +0000

Try journaling each day writing down all the thoughts, worries, failures and give them all to God. Offer your day and all the times you may have forgotten God was present to Him. Ask Our sweet Mother Mary to take the thoughts and racing and make them into a beautiful gift to God. God has given you this incredible intellect and only He will tell you how to keep it in balance. It is a daily prayer to ask God and your guardian angel to keep you focused on Him alone. Giving praise and Thanksgiving for the moments, living each task in the moment, loving God in each moment. The Sleepless hours are our Lord calling you for quiet time with Him.
I can offer this advice because I too have to practice daily these habits of paying attention. Don’t be so hard on yourself, God knows your heart and loves you no matter what.

By: Jackie Parkes

Jackie Parkes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:14:23 +0000

Well I can relate to everything you say! In my case I have late onset bi-polar affective disorder, treated by medication. I still have racing thoughts continuously. I find it easier to pray & read at the Birmingham Oratory. Very calming & also during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Provost found me to receive a special blessing yesterday! Check my blog!

By: Dorothy Miller

Dorothy Miller — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:52:59 +0000

Hello and Good Morning, Anonymous!
YES, I do know you!(you need not a name.) I do know your pain & suffering. I went on a retreat about 2 years ago, and can honestly say I will never be the same!
Something beautiful happens when you have eyes of faith. When Jesus cures your blindness. When the Zeal of the Lord possesses you. But know that this Zeal is rejected in this culture of Death. Know that you will now live a life of pain & suffering. This is your gift, your cross. I so wish you to kiss it & accept it & love it! I will pray for you.
My advice…Surrender. Surrender everything back to Our Father! Tell Him,”I have this & this on my mind. If You need my help lead me, for I’m placing it ALL back in YOUR HANDS now Father.”
(YOU WILL SLEEP BETTER!)
I just read THE BEST BOOK! Transformed by Grace Scripture, Sacraments & the Sonship of Christ by Dom Walstan Mork, O.S.B. The first chapter is how you CAN NOT live on two levels, “split-level living.” “They give time and effort to religious duties, but when these have been taken care of, they descend, as it were, to daily life as to a lower plane. They fail to relate religion to living.”(page 5)
“There cannot be two levels in our life because for us Catholics there is only one that we can possibly live on, and this is the supernatural.”(page 6)
“Come, you say, what about eating, and working, and playing golf, all perfectly good acts, willed by God. These are natural, arising from the needs of the natural man. We can’t give up the necessities of life. Why, even the Trappists eat, sleep, and work.” (page 6)
I sure hope this helps.

Your Sister in Christ,
Dorothy

By: Jo Flemings

Jo Flemings — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:34:20 +0000

I have by no means arrived in this area!
Some ideas: tie regular practices in your day to prayer moments. Pray when you eat, pray when you get a cup of coffee, pray before you make a phone call-little quick prayers with an association to what you are working on in your heart–”Jesus, give me wisdom!”; ” Oh Lord teach me contentment!”, etc. If you listen to music when you work, cycle Christ-centered music into the Pandora loop, or load it onto your ipod. If you can embellish your workspace, put up images of Christ or Mary that you like that inspire you near where your attention wanders when you are working- write prayers memory verse or prayer request lists on cards and put them near your computer screen or behind the kitchen sink or on the bathroom mirror. Set your watch or computer schedule reminder with prayer reminders- Angelus at noon, Divine Mercy at 3 pm etc. Spend two to five more minutes training yourself to focus mentally on loving Christ or hearing Him speaking to your heart after each set time of prayer until you build up to a set goal of focused time.
I think it can be like working out, build up slowly by disciplined effort, a little at a time. I think each personality type also has to find a motivating path. For some,the goal of sharing what they have experienced by preparing to teach faith formation might help them become more attentive because it’s on their minds as part of their task list. These things are helpful to me!