Stillness

In this busy world, being on the go seems to be the norm. On some level, the busyness in our lives may make us feel needed or valued. We find it hard to slow down. That being said, I doubt many people contemplate spending their time in stillness. What would be the benefit?

Benefits of stillness

Incorporating stillness into our lives does have its benefits. It allows us to get in touch with ourselves and our creator. It allows us to search our souls to see how we are feeling and what our souls (and in turn we) may need. I believe stillness helps us return to more of our authentic self (the self God created us to be) versus being the performance-oriented version of our false self (the self the world has shaped us to be).

It might be hard to even distinguish what about us is false. In stillness, we invite God in and ask Him to reveal the false things we believe about ourselves. We reflect and remember what brings us deep satisfaction, gladness and meaning into our lives.

Stillness allows us to reflect on what brought us happiness as a child. In childhood, we are unguarded, exploring and enjoying life. Children tend to live in the present. As we grow up and mature, we tend to leave that child-like look at the world behind. We start becoming self-conscious, start performing, start striving. We allow the world to crush our souls.

To be honest, the act of stillness challenges me. The few times I practiced stillness, I was blessed with clear thoughts, a full heart, peace and in some cases a plan of action to help me get back to the person God created me to be.

Help practicing stillness

Maybe the first step towards incorporating stillness into our lives is by giving ourselves permission to sit and do nothing. Even writing those words seems wrong. “Do nothing” is against our culture’s mindset. How can we be productive by not doing anything?

The ironic thing is that taking time to practice stillness will actually make us more productive. Mastering the practice of stillness allows us to learn how to settle into our bodies. In stillness, we learn to breathe better and control our thoughts more effectively. We practice the art of paying attention, starting with our bodies. We ask ourselves: “Is my breathing shallow or deep? Can I release thoughts that are restricting me? What does my soul need? What words do I need to hear?”

After checking in with ourselves, we move our attention to the silence. We listen for God’s gentle, loving voice. Our souls get fed as we embrace what they need, allowing us to move forward more authentically as God intended. We practice receiving and enjoying the present moment and the gifts it brings. Being quiet in God’s presence, we begin to see ourselves through His eyes.

We need to make the act of stillness a new habit. As with any new habit, we have to be disciplined and schedule time for it into our day, making it a part of our routine. It takes time and patience for new habits to form. Maybe we start with five minutes a day and work our way up to 15 minutes? Everyone will figure out what works best for them.

Will you consider joining me in incorporating the practice of stillness into your life?

Stillness photo

I associated a photo of a snow-drenched tree and ground with this post. The snow was an overnight surprise. I wanted to capture the fresh, unmarked blanket of snow which made me think of purity, peacefulness and stillness.

Prayer

God, my soul finds rest in you and my hope comes from you. I know you will fight for me, that I only need to be still. Lord, I wait for you, my whole being waits, and in your word I put my hope. For in your word you, Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 30:15, Psalm 62:5, Exodus 14:14, Psalm 130:5