The mindfulness movement, which focuses on living fully in the present moment, emphasises the importance of the ‘inner observer’. From this perspective, I look at my life as if from the side of a river. The river can be like the world and my life like a boat flowing downstream. Instead of judging and criticising the events and circumstances of my day, I am gentler on myself. I take in the totality of my experience which includes seeing the ninety-five percent of it that was good and the five percent of it that was not, and putting each in their rightful places. If my inner critic attempts to interrupt my observing mind, I need to go back to the side of the river.
For me, one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible comes from Psalm 23: ‘In grassy meadows he lets me lie, by tranquil streams he leads me to restore my spirit’. When I repeat it like a mantra, I am suddenly transported to another time and place. I am invited to rest a while among the meadows and streams in the company of the Good Shepherd, who is my everything. If I sense the finger-pointing at me again, then I pause, smile and return to my mantra.

Excerpted from Bursting Out In Praise: Spirituality & Mental Health by Gavin Thomas Murphy (pp. 15-16)