By Nancy Virden (c)2026 AlwaysTheFight.com

If the word “mindfulness” brings up vague ideas of New Age strategies, Yoga, lotus flowers, and worry stones, that is not the direction I am going here. Mindfulness is not merely a practice; it is a state of focus. Being mindful simply means paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way.

Maybe our parents said, “Be mindful of the time,” as we headed out to play before dinner. As we sit in classes or meetings, we try to be mindful of the presenter and jot down important ideas. Reading this post, you may be mindful of what you are learning.

The opposite of mindful is worrying about the past or present, daydreaming, distractive thoughts, and anything that pulls us away from our present focus. It is normal to (and scientifically impossible not to) have wandering thoughts. Mindfulness notices these rabbit trails and returns to what is at hand.

For mindfulness to occur, we need certain attitudes that aid our focus:

• Non-judging – not judging as good or bad ourselves or others
• Patience – with distractions
• Open-mindedness – to keep trying and allow this to work
• Trust – know God is still on His throne, and is with us, too
• Acceptance – life on life’s terms
• Non-striving – goals are great, but we can only take one step at a time

The benefits of better focus include accomplishment, more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, less stress, healthy emotional regulation, and wiser decision-making.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Psalm 46: 10

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

_{HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996, 2004, 2015 BY TYNDALE HOUSE FOUNDATION. USED BY PERMISSION OF TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC., CAROL STREAM, ILLINOIS 60188, PER BIBLE GATEWAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://WWW.BIBLEGATEWAY.COM/}