3. 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.”
4. Dealing with Distractions
What 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.
5. 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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6. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. 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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10. 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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11. 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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