The concept of stillness is an integral part of our lives. Meditation, prayer, mindfulness, reflection and alone time quiet our bodies and minds and help us ease our feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. Though, it is hard to bring ourselves to complete stillness. Because we have learned to rush, do more and do it faster.
Do you remember being a little kid when time seemed to drag, and you always wanted to be older? You couldn’t wait to turn thirteen, to get your driver’s license, or to graduate. As we become adults, we long for how slow time felt when we were growing up.
But how could we cultivate slowness, when we can’t even sit still long enough and breathe?
The simple definition of stillness is to become motionless and silent. I believe that there is something deeper to the quality of this innate centre of our being. There is something extremely dynamic to the element of stillness. When we can access this state in our bodies and minds, quite extraordinary mechanics can come through in terms of healing and self-regulating.
Why we need stillness?
Our bodies need to slow down to recharge. And slowing down helps us find our breath as a gateway to the present moment. Additionally, our brain and central nervous system need ease and quiet to repair. The heart of stillness is listening. And when we listen, we can hear what our bodies truly need or ask from us.
That creates an opportunity to connect with our true nature. Where we learn to be more at ease and to cultivate more compassion, and by doing that, we may find a better sense of safety in ourselves and our environment.
When we get still, we also give those around us the potential to do the same. Furthermore, accessing our stillness, our true nature has a ripple effect on the world around us.
Give yourself the gift of slowing down. Make time to practice stillness, as you need to slow down to speed up. Think about what that means to you.
Slow down to speed up.
Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay
You are so correct about how challenging it has become to create stillness. It seems that we’re always doing something, and for many of us, myself included, being still at times feels like I’m wasting time. I should be doing something. Yet, at the core I know the value of taking time for meditation, prayer and self-reflection. All of which require that I become still and focused.
Thank You for the reminder that it can be a ‘gift’ to ourselves when we slow down.
Dear Yvonne,
Thank you for your comment. I hear you loud and clear. The feeling of guilt is something I am very familiar with, when I don’t do anything, put up my feet and get some well deserved me time.
When you always go, go,go, any slow time gives you a feeling of anxiety. Like you should have been doing something else, and you are wasting your time.
You don’t need to justify how you deserve or don’t deserve down time. You just put yourself first. And be proud for giving that gif to yourself.