Quiet
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Pascal
Life is chaotic. Everyone of us has our own little crazy inner and outer worlds going on. Our minds are inundated and constantly swirling, processing the happenings of life. We are overstimulated. We spend our lives incessantly trying to conquer our ever mounting, never ending, to-do lists. We need to stop. We need to remove ourselves from the rat race. We need to retreat into solitude for the sake of our sanity.
“Solitude is a silent storm that breaks down all our dead branches.” ~ Kahlil Gibran
We cannot be our best selves if we are running ourselves into the ground. We cannot live up to our potential if we live in a state of frantic exhaustion. In order to be our best selves we need calm and quiet. Rest and clarity. American culture puts such a premium on over-working, over-producing, and never resting. It’s a never ending sacrifice of yourself, and peace and quiet. It’s unhealthy, unrealistic, and insatiable. Who are you without the constant demands, distractions, and interruptions? Who are you without that incessant to-do list? And even more pressing…who could you be?..Time is of the essence here..
”Silence is a source of strength.” ~ Lao Tzu
Ironically we tell ourselves we can’t slow down and we don’t have time to make time for quiet time. False. We are overlooking and undervaluing the benefits of cultivating quiet in our lives. Life requires reflection. To live fuller not busier. To work smarter not harder. Silence is a gateway to clarity and intention. You will never achieve clarity in constant chaos and distraction. You must create the space to simply pause the chatter and clamor. Quiet reflection is needed to gain insights about our thoughts and feelings and the meaning of our experiences. “In quietness are all things answered, and is every problem quietly resolved.” ~ A Course In Miracles. Silence provides clarity for the heart, mind and soul. If you cultivate silence in our lives will allow us to live with more clarity, centeredness, and intention. There is value to be found in stillness and it would benefit us to prioritize quietness.
“Solitary and stillness are there in pockets if we only look for them. “ ~ Ryan Holiday.
We need to carve out a sliver of time in our day to designate to silence. Take a pause from the endless busy-ness. Turn off the noise. Put your phone down. Take a walk. Meditate. Paint. Stretch. Have tea. Breathe. Ignore the world. It is not a waste of time. This little sliver of time can ensure the rest of your time is allotted correctly. Let the mind settle. Let the muddy waters clear. Let the rapids and ripples calm, and clarity come to the surface. Let all the brilliance and genius within you emerge.
“Every prophet must be forced into the wilderness where they undergo solitude, deprivation, reflection, and meditation…that is where psychic dynamite is made.” ~ Winston Churchill
Disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself. Take the time to think, digest, and process the experiences of life, to understand and appreciate yourself, and have revelations that are available only in a still mind. Create the space to allow all that is important to come to fruition and flourish. This little sliver of time can help you be intentional, achieve inner peace, and direct your life with purpose. Retreat. And return to the world restored with focus, poise, and perspective, ready to make the most out of life…ready to make the most out of yourself. Quiet is an investment. As with any good investment, you must invest to reap a return. Be still. Be centered. Be present. Just be. For the sake of yourself and the quality of your life. As they say, “Silence is golden.. So let’s get rich”.
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