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St. Augustine referred to "the scattered self," and Christians today report feeling fragmented, busy, and overwhelmed. Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary, believes the antidote to fragmentation is "wholeheartedness," a return to our union and communion with God. Chuck and the Denver Institute team discuss ways to move from fragmentation to wholeheartedness on this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast.

Read Chuck's latest book, Wholeheartedness*.On feeling fragmented:

"Somehow, someway, we're looking for life somewhere else. [Christians] were made for union and communion, and instead of falling back into that union and communion [with God], we look for it elsewhere."

The risks of social media comparison:

"There's more comparison nowadays than ever before. So, we're always wondering if we measure up. I mean, it's the age old story, but it's more complicated now because of media and our interconnectedness."

On his attempt to find his true self: 

"Who are you and how are you showing up in the space?"

Finding technological solutions to sabbath, rest, and reflection:

"You're looking for an exterior answer to an interior problem when this is really something about your interior, about where you are in union with God." 

Learn more about centering and contemplative prayer:

"20 minutes every morning. Sometimes twice a day, but that's a time to hone in on, simply be present, to breathe, to be quiet. When I say 'quiet,' no music on in the background, and to simply be present to God. That's maybe the simplest way of putting it. People use a prayer word or a phrase or something like 'Be still,' or 'Jesus,' or 'Come, Lord Jesus,' to sort of anchor them so that when their thoughts go in a different direction, they use the prayer word to come back and to simply be present."

On the buzz around "mindfulness":

"Practices of silence and solitude and breathing and anchoring have been secularized, and I'm okay with that."

Check out the Calm app that Chuck mentioned.Download the episode transcript.

*–Purchase with purpose. Amazon donates to Denver Institute when you shop at smile.amazon.com.