10. Stillness

 

What is stillness? Our mental chatter can become too much, so we try to distract ourselves. But the monkey mind continues to chatter, an incessant background noise. Can you find a place of stillness? Meditation can help you to practice stillness. Practicing stillness allows space for the thoughts that matter. It builds creativity, streamlines your productivity, builds awareness of your inner and outer landscape, and allows you to more fully connect with your true self. Stillness is the gateway to expanding your consciousness. (See Air: Breath.)

Overthinking versus staying centered: If you are pulling this card, it might be time to take a step back and reorient yourself. You might be overthinking or getting lost in the wrong side of things. Worrying, overthinking signs from the universe, and fretting over something you cannot change are all signs of needing to step back. If you cannot see the forest for the trees, it’s time to step away. If there is too much noise, you cannot hear your deeper needs, and your connection to your deeper self is blocked.

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In a world full of distractions trying to catch your attention, how can you stay centered?

Many of us are taught that the way through challenging situations is to think our way out. If we need an answer we need caffeine, high energy, and thinking. Yet this method separates us even more from our mind, body, and deeper wise self.

We then become more entrenched in our perceptions and thought processes because we believe that the way to stay safe is to think of a solution. We may believe that we need to be aware of everything that can go wrong so that we can plan for it. So we are continually - unnaturally - in a state of panic, waiting for the world to fall down around us. (See Air: Ego Illusions.)

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In our separation we might believe that there is something that we need to make this moment ok, like entertainment, food, or some kind of change. As we grasp to fill the void, we forget that we can simply respond to our feelings of inadequacy: we can allow the uncomfortable feelings to just be.

 

Stillness is one of the finest gifts we can offer ourselves. At the center of this practice is leaving the confinement of our individual consciousness and returning back to union with the Universal consciousness. (See Air: Pause and Air: Expansion.) We can shift  our perspective from individual to collective (community, country, world, solar system, universe).

 

It is safe to be still. It is beneficial to connect to the deeper parts of ourselves. Silence can be as wonderful as any sound. Invite in stillness, and create time for it in your everyday life.

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Potential Blocks:

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One block is feeling unsafe to be alone with our thoughts, since many of us were not taught to sit in stillness. Are you overthinking and can’t get it to stop? Introduce a small pause (see Air: Pause) and a meditation practice. It may take some time, but gradually your thoughts will start to slow and you’ll build awareness around what is really happening in your mind.

 

Another block is identifying with your thoughts too much and believing them as if they are all true. (See Air: Ego Illusions.) Our thoughts are not always telling us the truth and can lead us down a dark path. Take a moment to pause and ask yourself, are these thoughts mine or did they come from someone else? Are they from my deeper true self, or are they from an outer layer that is not really mine?

 

Exercise:

 

Try to not reach for your phone or other distractions. You are allowed to be relaxed and calm. You don’t need to heed the call of your mind to elevate every problem into a life-threatening panic. Start to catch yourself when you notice the mental chatter. See the Meditation Guide and practice it daily. It can help calm the mind and expand your consciousness.

 

Try the Expanding Consciousness Meditation. This is basically a Mooji meditation.

 

Give yourself permission for stillness for this time together. There is nothing that needs to be done; this time is for emptiness. Bring your awareness into the space you are in and into your body. What feels alive in your senses? Sink down into your body and connect to your breath. With each out-breath let go a little more. Can you hear your mind? Every time you hear it or feel a contraction, let go a little and breathe some space into your system. Trust your body to look after itself in this moment. Let everything go, let it automate itself, from your breathing, your temperature regulation, and your blood pressure, to the muscles holding you up.

Sink down into your body a little further. Imagine gaining some distance from your mind, as if you could watch it drifting away. Become the watcher of your mind. You are not your thoughts or your body. You are as much a part of the universe as you are part of your body. Connect with the deep expanse of nothingness. You are not creating this space but moving into it."