Episode 169 - Breaking Free From Unhealthy Mental Habits

Being Human

Welcome to Episode 169 of the Being Human Podcast: Breaking Free From Unhealthy Mental Habits

In this episode, the fourth video of our six-part series for Lent, we feature a part of Dr. Greg’s 8-week course entitled "Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness". He talks about how our interpretations of events shape our reactions and behaviors, using the ABC model of learning to illustrate this process. He emphasizes the role of mindfulness in breaking habitual thought patterns and empowering individuals to make conscious choices. By acknowledging self-critical thoughts without judgment and practicing mindfulness exercises like the sacramental pause, we can cultivate greater awareness and peace of mind. He also shares about the power of mindfulness as a tool to counteract negative thought patterns and promote personal growth.

Discussed in the episode:

• Understanding one’s innate capacity for mindfulness and the importance of re-engaging with present experiences through awareness and mindful living

• The transformative power of mindfulness in unraveling the mind's narrative and cultivating a deeper sense of awareness in daily life

• A discussion on the ABC model of learning, how this affects our thoughts, and how interpretations can shift based on new information influences our reactions to events

• Understanding how interpretations can be true, false, or a mix of both, and how they impact our reactions and responses

• Exploring the repetitive nature of automatic thoughts and how mindfulness exercises can help disrupt our ingrained beliefs and assumptions

• The significance of the "beginner's mind" approach and how recognizing distractions is key to deepening our mindfulness practice

• Exploring our thoughts as mental events and the significance of learning to view them as mental noises to be heard without judgment or attachment

Resources mentioned or relevant:

Introduction to Catholic Mindfulness

Mindful Catholic Exercises

The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment At A Time by Dr. Greg Bottaro

Episode 134: Catholic Mindfulness: Why It's Not Only Okay But Encouraged for Catholics to Practice

Buddhist vs Catholic Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness New Age?

Catholic Mindfulness Is Not Centering Prayer

The Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, or, Coffee - Satan’s Drink

You’re No Angel, but Neither Am I

• Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

• Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

• Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

• Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available;

• Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more;

• Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

• Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych.

• Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at [e-mail] - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!