Defining Emotional Health and Contemplative Spirituality
My summary of P Scazzero’s points as well as what is important to me.
Emotional Health
- Being aware and having the ability to express/communicate/share the following:
- My flaws
- My needs
- My feelings
- My strengths
- What is bad for me
- Others needs
- Taking initiative to build and maintain deep relationships
- Grieving well
Self-awareness, knowing what is going on inside of us, is indisplensable to emotional health and loving well
Contemplative Spirituality
- Making room (through habits of prayer, silence, Church, the Bible) to:
- Surrender to God
- Know/Hear and obey God’s will
- Love others
- Understand how God sees me
- Develop a rhythm to make room (recursive)
Contemplation is not simply about our relationship with GOd. It is ultimately the way we see and treat people and the way we look at ourselves.
The Three Gifts of Integration
1. The Gift of Slowing Down
I remember my friend David saying one thing he wanted was more time — he was too busy. For me, I find myself with a lot of free time… but do I feel like I slow down? Nope.
Contemplative Spirituality
When I have sufficient “slowing-down time” alone, I find that my activity is marked by a deep, loving communion with God
I remember being able to hear God more thoughout my day, during the mundane. This was coupled with “slowing down”, quiet times taken to spend with God. Now I am more busy and try to remind myself of God throughout my day, but I find it to be harder without having dedicated time to slow down.
Emotional Health
Taking time to:
- Cultivate deep friendships
- Being intentional with how I allocate time
- Reflect and take internal stock
2. The Gift of Anchoring in God’s Love
emotional health
Knowing and understanding that I am a human being and my identity in God
Contemplative Spirituality
His presence makes all life fulfilling
There is, perhaps, nothing more pleasurable and healing than to be delighted by someone, especially if that someone is a God who loves us with inexhaustible love and with no strings attached
[Jesus is] honey to the mouth, music to the ear, and joy to the heart - Bernard of Clairvaux
3. The Gift of Breaking Free from Illusions
God’s love burns away what is false and unreal
Emotional health
Break free of the lies and pressures of the world. Like feeling the need to succeed in career or hiding my brokeness
Contemplative Spirituality
Reject the illusions my flesh bring. Break free from my own selfish desires and do God’s will instead
David: A Model of Emotional Health and Contemplative Spirituality
In Psalm 55:1-17 David cries out to God. He is transparent about his brokeness and worries. And he declares the truths of God over his life to break down any illusions he may have/develop