The Art of Being Still
It sounds easy enough, right? Maybe even a luxury we dream about, but don’t consider realistic. But in fact, how often do we choose to surround ourselves with noise, activity and entertainment? In what would be space for quiet reflection, we drown it out– listening to podcasts as we drive to work, scrolling Facebook as we eat lunch or even checking emails while in the restroom. Everyone is constantly busy.
Why do we do that to ourselves? Some are afraid of being alone with their thoughts, others want to appear busy and fulfilled, and some have trouble quieting a racing mind filled with to-do lists (me!). Whatever the reason, the discipline of stillness has never been more necessary.
And I say “discipline” because it takes work. It’s a conscious choice to set aside problems, deadlines and to-do’s for a period of time and let our minds and bodies rest.
Give it a try. Take a pause here and just be still.
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Let me guess. You skipped right over that pause and kept reading, right? Okay, give it another try. I'll do it with you.
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It’s hard, right?! You can’t focus. Your mind started jumping from one thought to the next. Maybe you even started to fidget a little in your chair.
I hear you. It feels nearly impossible at first. But with practice, you’ll find your mind will begin to settle. You’ll think through issues more clearly, sleep better and ease the weight of stress on your mind and body. So instead of feeling like you’re playing bumper cars with the world, being bounced and bumped at every turn, you’ll know who you are and what matters most– and be thankful for it.
A few tips as you get started:
Take a few minutes every day to allow yourself to be silent and still. Let the rest of the world wait. You need this in your life more than you know. Then, once you’re ready, rejoin it with a steady heart.
You can do this. And I promise, you’ll be glad you did.
Here's to learning to embrace those quiet moments,
Kara // Co-founder