Chapter 11

When Things Go Haywire ArmchairMystic

Chapter 11Dealing with Distractions

Dealing with Distractions

• Distractions might be so nagging that they discourage me; make me feel I’ve failed at the task of prayer

• No one is impervious to distractions

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“If you’ve never had any distractions, you don’t know how to pray.”

Dealing with DistractionsWhat is more detrimental to my prayer?The distractions OR My anxiety over them

This is important to know:

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My anxiety, distress, guilt and anger about the distractions are far more detrimental to

my prayer than the distractions themselves.

Dealing with Distractions

While there is only a little I can do to rid myself of the initial distractions, there is much I can do to free myself from anxiety about them.

This is what actually distinguishes a mystic from a novice.

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Chapter 11

Dealing with Distractions

Read the Thibodeaux’s story pg 121 about fishing and the snake

What is the difference between one’s perception and response to a situation?

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Dealing with Distractions

Perception & Response• The initial distraction poses little or no threat to

my prayer unless I perceive it to be a threat. • The way to deal with these little thoughts, then,

is simply to watch them pass by.• The same is true for physical distractions • We must remember that prayer is not an

assignment from God wherein I must accomplish some task.

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Dealing with Distractions

I trust in God and relax –because no matter happens (focused

prayer or watching the distractions pass by), I will do it in God’s presence

- and no time with God is wasted time.

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A Few Tricks

A) Don’t fight distractions; negotiate with them by acknowledging their presence and then letting them leave on their own.

B) If persistent distractions, try using a mantra in prayer as an anchor keeping your boat steady so you don’t drown in the waters of distractions.

C) If distractions still persist – vary your prayer activities (read Bible, pray rosary, pray the Office, use other ready-made prayers) to give your restless mind something to focus on.

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A Few Tricks

D) And if the yet still persist – try going straight through it. It the distractions don’t go away, offer your crazy prayer up to the Lord and let him worry about it!

Review exercises R, S, T U pgs 124-127

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Conclusion

Having distractions in my prayer is not a mark of inadequacy or inability.

It simply means I am human!

Sometimes God may even be the source of them, calling me to refocus my prayer attention on them.

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