THE MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY FIELD GUIDE
— FOLLOW THE LIGHT COURSE —
2: Why Mindful Photography?
Yoda: I am wondering, why are you here?
Luke: I'm looking for someone.
Yoda: Looking? Found someone, you have, I would say, hmmm?
Luke: Right...
Yoda: Help you I can. Yes, mmmm.
Luke: I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior.
Yoda: Ohhh. Great warrior. [laughs and shakes his head]
Yoda: Wars not make one great.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Howdy Friend,
Like Yoda said, "Found someone you have—help you I can." Hang in there—freedom awaits you in creative presence.
Do you feel like you are at the mercy of your self-defeating thoughts? Are you at a crisis point in your own life right now, hurting from unfulfilled dreams and feelings that society is falling apart? Do you feel like you have “tried everything” and that you’re running out of options to find contentment?
You are not alone. A shocking number of people live daily lives on the edge of despair. I remember the feeling full well.
Why Mindful Photography?
Emotional resilience is at an all-time low. There are 700,000 deaths per year by suicide (World Health Organization). If that isn't messed up enough, get this: For every suicide completion, there are 25 attempts (Merck Manuals). Think of the misery that represents! These "statistics" are our parents, our spouses, our sons and daughters—as well as the unknown person who lives across the way.
Why, despite our technological and medical achievements, are depression and anxiety at record levels in our society? Why do so many struggle with loneliness and isolation, despite having abundant on-screen friends and countless ways to stay in touch?
Traditional models of treatment and pharmaceuticals have failed us because they tend to focus on diagnosis and symptom management rather than giving people new life tools that can help alleviate the root of the issue, which is our inability to access God's power and to sit with tough emotions.
Religion has failed us too (or better yet, we have failed religion). We all have a natural tendency to allow our belief systems to construct walls around us that further our feelings of isolation and block us from true intimacy with God and our fellows.
Additionally, AI-refined algorithms amplify our discontent, leaving us unsatisfied but scrolling for more. Wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the abundant blessings currently all around us?
God mercifully saved me from depression and suicidal ruminations. I'm free now, and you can be too. But—you are going to have to do your part to open yourself up to God's freedom. That starts with your response to the self-defeating thoughts that harass you day and night.
Despite a brutal period of depression, I somehow managed to get out, interact, and practice my craft. A pattern started to emerge: I was experiencing healing due an active, creative form of mindfulness that later turned into The Mindful Photography Field Guide: 15 Smartphone Photography Practices for Inner Peace.
This is your stand.
Will you keep agreeing with the monkey mind’s unrestrained chatter? Will you let the Enemy deceive you into painting your life as hopeless? Or, as God's child, will you ball up your fists and declare out loud to those lies: "hands-off!"
As you may have noticed by now, these ain't your typical yoga-pants & aromatherapy mindfulness teachings.
Despite a brutal period of depression, I somehow managed to get out, interact, and practice my craft. A pattern started to emerge: I was experiencing healing due an active, creative form of mindfulness that later turned into The Mindful Photography Field Guide: 15 Smartphone Photography Practices for Inner Peace.
The engaged, creative, life-altering practices from The Mindful Photography Field Guide that you’re about to undertake were born out of my journey through crippling depression and anxiety. Years ago, during a dark period in my life, I realized that while I was practicing photography, I wasn’t dwelling on my problems. I was getting a taste of present-moment awareness and what that feels like in my body.
I dig into this more in this post:
The Mindful Photography Field Guide: Discover the Power of Photography Therapy
As a result, I gained courage to sit with tough emotions without judging them or myself. That felt empowering. Challenges with depression and anxiety forced me to discard outdated and ineffective beliefs and to instead implement these tools that actually work for me, bringing me inner peace in the present, just as things are, right here, right now.
And sometimes, it wasn’t even about the technical skill—it was about how a single image reframed what I believed about reality.
Reframing Anxiety’s Thinking Traps Through Mindful Photography
So, why mindful photography? These practices saved my life when failure was not an option. And just having a “hunch” about abstract theories wasn’t going to cut it. I had to do the research, and you’ll find plenty of references in the Field Guide that back up these active, tactical, practical methods.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just about depression and anxiety reduction. It’s about recognizing that photography—when approached with reverence—can become a sacred space where God meets us and we get lost in creation.
If you're curious about how photography can connect you more deeply to God, here's something for the road:
Finding God’s Presence Through Mindful Photography
I know this “Why” introduction to your Follow the Light course is a wee bit heavy. Ready to have some fun?
Mindfulness and photography go together like spaghetti and meatballs. Hang tight for tomorrow's lesson when you'll learn that, after a quick trick, the world’s biggest distraction device can be turned into a powerful tool for creative mindfulness. (Hint: it starts with “airplane” and ends with “mode.”)
Follow the Light,
Joe
PS:
I just prayed these words over you and all who would eventually read them:
The Lord bless you and keep you,
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
The Lord turn His face toward you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Next Steps
Back to Yoda's "Why are you here?" Remark
Keep asking "why?" What is God's will for you in this course? Even if you have to pretend to believe, keep your heart humble, listen, and watch for answers from the One who loves you personally.Commit to God
Say a little prayer. Scribble a journal entry. Release pride and control. Double-down on your commitment to complete these practices. For myself, I found that each time I completed what I set out to do I felt more and more of God's presence.Read these Support Articles
Tactics To Use When You Feel Like You Are About To Commit Suicide
Who is in Control? (Hint: It ain’t you or me.) Three Mindful Photography Practices
Be Still and Know: A Journey into Stillness with GodBefore Your Next Lesson
Between now and your next lesson, consider Two-Way Journalling about your "Why?". What is drawing you towards a walking and talking relationship with God? What is holding you back?
Ready for a deeper dive with a beautiful printed book? Purchase The Mindful Photography Field Guide: 15 Smartphone Photography Practices for Inner Peace.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for new videos each week that encourage and equip mindful creativity.
