Mindfulness, Ignatian Spirituality and the Search for Balance

Dec 06, 2024

Getting Sidetracked- Agnes Ong

Once, before the pandemic, thinking that I was on the cusp of burnout at work due to my constant whining about work, a friend suggested that I attend a one-day mindfulness workshop conducted by a friend.

Mindfulness is the practice of awareness and presence that helps people manage stress, emotions, and mental health.

Though I wasn’t experiencing a burnout, I signed up for the workshop, mostly out of curiosity. At the time, terms like “mindfulness,” “emotional health,” and “work-life balance” were not commonly discussed in Malaysian workplaces.

That rainy Saturday afternoon at the workshop, I discovered the root causes of my unhappiness at work and learned techniques to release that tension through breathing exercises, meditation, and even selecting pictures from cards. The weekend left me feeling uplifted and full of positive emotions.

However, come Monday, I found myself slipping back into old patterns. While mindfulness had helped many corporate professionals manage stress, I realised I needed something more substantial to maintain my balance over the long term.

That’s when I decided to return to Ignatian spirituality retreats.

Ignatian Spirituality
Ignatian spirituality, rooted in the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, focuses on discerning God’s will through reflection, prayer, and spiritual exercises. It emphasises serving others and living in alignment with God’s guidance.

Before my exploration of mindfulness, I had attended several Ignatian retreats at the Maranatha House of Prayer in Janda Baik, Selangor. The first time was alone; the second, with a close friend. Each time, I left feeling renewed and strengthened, with my burdens lifted and my confidence restored.

While mindfulness and Ignatian spirituality share similarities in their emphasis on selfawareness, contemplation, and inner peace, Ignatian spirituality offers a deeper, faithcentred approach. The exercises I engaged in not only helped me to reflect but also guided me to discern and follow God’s will. In doing so, it felt as though I had a powerful ally in my corner – a source of strength and guidance that only faith can provide.

Both emphasise being present in the moment, self-reflection, cultivating a sense of inner peace and calm, and then detaching from worries, desires, or worldly distractions.

However, in Ignatian spirituality, I also found the faith-based exercises soothing as it helps me to explore ways to find and follow God’s will. In doing so, it feels as if I have someone truly powerful in my corner, a sort of secret gift that only I have and can use.

Ignatian spirituality calls us to discern and transform. Transformation, as anyone who has experienced it knows, is not always a comfortable process. But it challenges me to take control of my life and make decisions that were align with the faith I was born with, whether through prayer, service, or discernment.

Over the past two and a half decades, I’ve attended several Ignatian spirituality retreats, including those at Maranatha House of Prayer and once at Seven Fountains in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I love the uninterrupted silence, the intimate conversations I have with God, and the time spent reading and reflecting on Scripture. These retreats, with their simple, wholesome and delicious meals, offer an opportunity to reset, re-align my priorities, and acknowledge what is within my control. Most importantly, they teach me to trust God with what I cannot change.

A Spiritual Retreat in May
This past May, during a retreat at Maranatha House of Prayer, my first thought was, “I just want to sleep.” After completing three major work projects in two months, I was physically and mentally exhausted. Yet, as the retreat unfolded, it became clear that God had other plans for me. Not only did I rest, but I was gently urged to reflect on parts of my life I had neglected in the rush to meet work demands.

The retreat helped me sharpen my thinking, refocus my priorities, and renew my energy. It was like a long, rejuvenating soak at a spiritual spa, and I left feeling ready to tackle life’s challenges with renewed clarity and purpose.

Embracing Transformation
While mindfulness helps us stay present and manage daily stress, Ignatian spirituality goes a step further by inviting us to transform our hearts and lives in alignment with God’s purpose. Both paths lead to inner peace, but Ignatian spirituality challenges us to discern God’s will, trust in His guidance, and navigate life's challenges with a deeper sense of purpose.

As you reflect on your own New Year resolutions, why not consider embracing your own spiritual transformation? One meaningful way to do so is by exploring the Ignatian retreats offered at the Maranatha House of Prayer in Janda Baik (https://www. maranathahop.com/) or Seven Fountains in Chiang Mai, Thailand (https://www. thesevenfountains.org/). These retreats offer a wonderful opportunity to deepen your relationship with God, discern His will for your life, and experience spiritual renewal.

Who knows how God might touch your heart and lead you on a journey of growth and transformation in the year ahead?

(Agnes Ong is a self-professed curious traveller and lifelong learner with a lamentable tendency to get into sidetracked experiences. She aspires to explore as many historical UNESCO sites as possible, funds permitting. Agnes has a travel-slash-work-slash-dump everything IG at @agnes_gets_sidetracked)