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Cultivating stillness in a world full of chaos is the ultimate feat.
Especially now as the world has changed so rapidly and life as we know it has been flipped upside down. Now, more than ever, we must practice self-love and self-care to combat feelings of anxiety, fear and stress.
Our mental and physical health should be top priority in order to keep life running as smoothly as possible. Now is as good a time as ever, to implement practices that will nourish our souls.
What so many of us have been lacking is the time to center and go inward. When we learn to make stillness a part of our routine we alleviate feelings of angst and overwhelm. We learn how to connect with our higher self.
Your inner guidance system
Why is stillness so important?
Because it is only in stillness that we learn to trust our inner voice and guidance system.
We begin to notice that there are always two voices in our heads.
One that is loving and encouraging, and the other that wants to convince us that we are not enough and that we don’t deserve happiness.
Our inner-being is the voice that lets us know that we are worthy of the life we say we want.
Sadly, we rarely hear this voice because it is buried under the cacophony of everyday life. Muddled by to-do lists and fear of judgement or failure.
We have been conditioned to ignore our inner guidance and wisdom.
We have been trained to look for the answers outside of ourselves, using distractions to numb away the pain.
In solitude that noise falls away.
The ego begins to lose its hold over us. Our connection to source becomes more apparent.
We begin to notice whether or not we are in alignment.
Life flows more effortlessly and we experience the synchronicities that remind us we are on the right path.
RELATED: BEGINNERS GUIDE TO MEDITATION
Silence over distraction
As Ryan Holiday eloquently puts it in his book, Stillness Is The Key, “If the quiet moments are the best moments, and if so many wise, virtuous people have sung their praises, why are they so rare?”
Why do we often avoid stillness and silence?
Because it is often uncomfortable to be alone with our thoughts.
We would rather escape than feel. We are afraid of what we might recognize or learn about ourselves. We’ve learned that it’s better to be busy than to be still.
Yet, it is in our ability to disconnect from the outside world in any way that works for us that brings about clarity.
So many of the greatest minds in the world understand the benefits of time in solitude.
Bill Gates, for example, enjoys what he refers to as “think weeks” twice a year, where he retires to a cabin in the woods to be alone with his thoughts and to do deep work.
“Our culture made a virtue of living only as extroverts. We discouraged the inner journey, the quest for a center. So we lost our center and have to find it again.”
Go deep not shallow
If we want to create something of value or invest time in ourselves through acquiring knowledge it’s essential that we carve out time for solitude.
Scheduling time in our calendars where we can consistently dive into our work is much more effective than just leaving these opportunities up to chance.
The best way to develop your craft whether it be writing, playing an instrument, or working on a project is to choose a time of day that you can work without any distractions.
It is through the consistency and discipline of practicing on a deep level that allows us to be significantly more productive.
Clearly, most of us don’t have the luxury of retiring for an entire week where we can experience the benefits of complete solitude, but it is vital to our health and well-being to enjoy even just a couple hours of peaceful respite as often as possible.
This ability to recharge renews our sense of self and allows us to better respond to the everyday challenges of life.
This solitude can be meditation, sitting in a quiet room reading a book, taking a long walk in nature, or any activity that is free from distractions and allows us to experience the peaceful gift of stillness.
“In solitude is healing. Speak to your soul. Listen to your heart. Sometimes in the absence of noise we find the answers.”
Alone time is not the same as loneliness
Oftentimes, we assume being alone is synonymous with being lonely but this is not the case.
Many people find that even in a crowded room they still feel lonely, whereas others can be alone and feel completely at peace.
Getting to know oneself on a deeper level through solitude actually alleviates feelings of loneliness.
As we practice the art of being alone and become comfortable with spending more time with less outside influence we learn to trust ourselves more.
We become more clear about who we are as a person and develop more authenticity as a result.
Studies show that cultivating stillness and time alone has many benefits. Those who set aside time for themselves report more happiness, less stress and less depression than people that do not carve out this time.
As life continues to challenge us it’s important to evaluate our habits and optimize our mental state and well-being. If you feel stressed, fearful, or overwhelmed ask yourself if you’ve taken the time lately to get centered.
We cannot control the things going on around us, but we can control our mindset and our thoughts. Don’t deny yourself the gift of self-care. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Do you make enough time for solitude? Share your favorite self-care practices in the comments below!
