Magnify Book Club: The Practice of Stillness by Carrie Skarda
Feb 28, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Carrie Skarda, author of 'The Practice of Stillness', shares her insights on mindfulness and its transformative role in spiritual growth. She highlights how stillness can nurture our relationship with God, emphasizing the dangers of overstimulation. Listeners enjoy a humorous story illustrating the importance of presence, alongside a guided mindfulness exercise aimed at enhancing self-compassion. The conversation closes with reflections on meditation across faith traditions and an exciting announcement for the next literary adventure.
The podcast emphasizes that embracing mindfulness through stillness can significantly enhance emotional and spiritual well-being amidst modern life's chaos.
Carrie Skarda illustrates practical mindfulness exercises that promote compassionate presence, enabling deeper connections with oneself and others.
Deep dives
The Value of Stillness
The discussion highlights the significance of stillness in managing the chaos of modern life, emphasizing its importance for emotional and spiritual health. Carrie Skarda and her co-authors recognized that busyness often detracts from meaningful connections with God and others. Instead of relying on temporary boosts from stimulants, the authors advocate for embracing moments of silence and reflection to rejuvenate one's spirit. This approach is positioned as a remedy for the exhaustion and distraction prevalent in today’s noise-filled world.
Mindfulness Explained
Mindfulness is introduced as both a state of being present and an action that fosters deeper awareness in various aspects of life. The podcast emphasizes that mindfulness is not merely introspective but also includes being thoughtfully engaged with the world and those around us. Carrie illustrates this concept through examples, noting how mindfulness—termed as 'compassionate presence'—enables individuals to be fully attentive to their emotions and interactions. This understanding is rooted in scripture and spiritual practices, reinforcing that mindfulness can enhance one’s religious practices and relationships.
Connecting with God
The podcast delves into the importance of nurturing a relationship with Heavenly Father through mindfulness and meditation. Connecting with God allows individuals to prioritize their responsibilities, reducing the overwhelming feeling of life's demands by providing clear direction. Carrie shares a transformative experience where she realized that God's love should take precedence over her to-do lists, illustrating the deep soul-nourishing effect of divine connection. This practice of mindfulness helps individuals receive personal revelation and reassures them of their worth in God's sight.
Practical Exercises for Mindfulness
Carrie introduces practical exercises designed to cultivate mindfulness in everyday life, aiming to help participants recognize their internal states and foster compassionate awareness. These exercises involve reflecting on one’s physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions, promoting a deeper understanding of one’s current experience. The discussion encourages individuals to incorporate mindfulness into their spiritual practices, such as prayer and community interactions, thereby making it an integral part of their lives. Through these practices, participants are urged to approach their experiences with curiosity and non-judgment, fostering personal growth and connection to others.
In this special episode, we hear from author Carrie Skarda of The Practice of Stillness and walk through how mindfulness can be an important part of our spiritual growth. She does some mindfulness exercises and also walks us through a meditative practice.
This was a Zoom recording of the Magnify book club. If you want to join, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to the newsletter so you can be a part of next month's book club.
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