find stillness

Schedule in some stillness.

Life goes so fast.

Too many of us are caught up in a cycle of work and mindless media consumption. Our work asks so much from us and then we get home exhausted, sometimes too tired to pursue our learning or passions.

COVID has taught us a lot as we all started working from home; finding ways to balance the demands of our job with the demands of our life.

Many of us also found ourselves, maybe for the first time, with nothing to do but keep ourselves company.

Reflecting on how we spent that time helps us understand if we are numbing or leaning into discomfort, leaning into feeling.

When was the last time you just sat and observed the world around you? Staring off into the distance contemplating your life, your journey, your relationships, and your dreams?

Stillness is uncomfortable. It forces us to sit with our thoughts and our bodies. It can be hard to notice things we have been numbing or avoiding, probably without even realizing it.

When Max and I first moved in together he was often confused by my lack of doing. He would come home and ask what I had done all day and more often than not, I hadn’t done anything. I would just sit on the couch and be lost in thought.

Now, I am not saying that you should spend your entire day staring into space, and I realize that simply sitting is a luxury. But maybe you can set aside some time and space where you can just exist. Find some time to prioritize you.

Simply existing is a self-care practice that helps you notice if you’ve been running and from what. It enables feeling everything so that you can work through it; so that you can heal.

Finding stillness and sitting in your feelings can be really challenging, but the more you do it, the more inner peace you can achieve.

All that time I’ve spent sitting has benefitted me, my life, my happiness, and my relationships.

I have increased my self-awareness and I continue to practice it every day; I am forever learning more about my mind, my body, my habits, and my thoughts.

If sitting in stillness sounds a little daunting, find a friend or a companion who can be still with you. My favorite moments with Max, more than any vacation, have been the memories of us curled up on a couch talking.

It’s just the two of us, sitting, existing, and discussing our lives; our hopes, our dreams, and our challenges.

Take time to exist. Take time to talk. Take time to be present within you.

Find time to empower your relationships. Find time to listen, to feel heard, valued, and understood. Existing together has given us new perspectives and support, allowed us to understand ourselves through someone else’s eyes.

Schedule in some time to exist.

Our world needs your introspection.

Your life will benefit from greater self-awareness.