give good quote: stillness
“In stillness the world is restored.” ~ Lao Tzu
I can’t tell you how much this quote means to me right now. I’ve been moving around too much – travelling for work, looking externally for validation and stimulation, getting buzzy in my head about ideas and constantly in “scheduling mode”.
I’ve been running late for everything. Running, running.
This kind of freneticness – it creeps up on you.
Now it’s time to be still. And create space around me – in my movements, in my diary. Right down to the cellular level.
I went to the Chinese doctor this morning and she says to me, “Ah, stagnation…you’re flow is blocked”. Is it what! I can feel it – in my digestion, in my walking, in my communication with people. I need space around my cells so my chi can flow freely. So I can be restored.
There’s no pill to do this. It’s an attitude that you just adopt. Now. It’s being still.
Three things to do, flowing from this quote:
1. Sit for 20 minutes every day at 7am and then at 6pm, when my day finishes. Just sit. Still. Nothing else to do. I do this every day (with my meditation), but I’m going to focus on stillness and space for a few days so I can get back on track.
2. Schedule 15 minutes buffer around every activity. When I was at Cosmo, my gorgeous PA Lauren would do this with every meeting. It was a little breather she created for me.
3. Visualise, or feel, space and stillness - around me, around each and every cell. I’m doing this as I type and already I feel like I’m strolling with more flow.
What do you do to get still and restore?
hmmmm this is good reminder for me. I do not do anything at present. With 15 month old son, partner with broken wrist and my infatuation for creating my website in every other waking moment after speed-hanging the washing (damn interruption it is) I have not created these moments. I need to. The Chinese doctor would be appalled. Thanks for timely reminder I just have to inject some of this sit still time, biggest advocate of it, but to this point hypocritically so.
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I love just sitting staring out at my trees and listening to the sounds of the day and soaking up the stillness of it all. I can see then wherever I am in my apartment, the world around me becomes 3D in feeling, it’s no longer ‘flat’ looking if that makes any sense at all.
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Scarily, Sarah you are once again on the money. I’m all fuzzy with over-tiredness at the moment and took one look at this week’s schedule and postponed a few meetings. Yoga tomorrow morning will be a blessing. Need to find some quiet time tonight and get to bed early!
PS. Reason for tiredness today – went to Angus & Julia Stone concert last night. Late Sunday night for me but seriously most chilled out concert ever been to. People were dead quiet between songs – transfixed by such gorgeous sounds.
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Oh Nikki, I love the Stones. The talk with stillnesss. How amazing. It’s set the tone for you. A gift! Ride with it.
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I light 3 candles and just I sit on my balcony overlooking the beautiful trees in the wee small hours when everything is so so quiet (except the possums!).
Sometimes I’ll take a pencil & paper to expunge my feelings onto paper if the mood strikes but usually I just sit and listen, and listen. Just 15 minutes feels like hours.
I really love writting on paper with pencil in one hand and candle in the other barely illuminating the page. It’s saved my arse and sanity many a time.
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March 23rd, 2010 at 6:23 pm
I like this! bit old-school…
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I’m so worried that I am passing on my manicness and “need for speed” onto my 3 young children. My 6 year old is blissfully relaxed and chilled and totally looks at life with different lenses to mine. Where mine show the clock, and the mess and what’s still to be done, what he see’s through his are shapes, patterns and colours, I imagine kind of like a kaleidoscope. But what I fear that I’m doing is destroying this beauty and peace and calm world that he lives by forcing mine onto his. Admittedly his world is not that realistic, but I bet it’s a nicer place to live than mine! So my learning from you today Sarah, is that be aware that how I live my life can impact how others live theirs. Thanks as always.
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March 23rd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Oh, I’m glad Lisa. Perhaps you’re being too hard on yourself? If you’re aware of where you’re at and the impact you have, you’re doing the best thing you can for anyone…I reckon.x
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I definitely needed to read this today. I’ve been trying to let myself relax, but sometimes life just gets so busy. I love the idea of getting up early to sit in silence. It’d be a great way to start my day off right.
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March 23rd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
are you going to do it tomorrow?
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This is also a good reminder for me about being content in being still. I’ve been on doctor’s orders to take it easy all this week and to sit down with my feet up as much as possible. Easier said than done when I see all the things I want to be doing around me!
Thanks
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March 23rd, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Hey Rachel, lovely to hear from you here. I hope you’re ok?
The doctor’s orders (and the illness) are gifts…they force you to take stock and get still. Hope you can accept the gift!
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hi sarah, first time on your site and i can truly say it makes for a refreshing change from another blog site i normally frequent.
i am an extremely busy self employed mum of 3 boys 7-19 …and boy did i need to find this site and your piece on stillness.
my sleeping habits are all over the place which has affected my health. too much chatter in my life ….i’m going to rethink ways to get some calm in my day…….thanks for the re-minder…
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This is such a refreshing post/blog to read, thankyou!
I find stillness and a sense of inner calm through yoga. Focusing just on my breathe & body in the present moment is meditation through movement and my mind is always quieter after i have practiced. When i’m on my mat I can let go of everything that I have to ‘do’ and just ‘be’. I search for the stillness in every pose.
Some days it’s harder to be still than others and I don’t get to practice as much as i’d like, but it’s ok because i can incorporate yoga into everything that i do, such as taking some deep long breaths and neck stretches at my desk or closing my eyes and meditating on the train.
I am studying at uni full time as well as working part time and recently teaching yoga…so i don’t really have much ‘spare’ time, but finding this stillness has turned my life around & gives me the strength i need to manage stress and keep things in perspective.
peace&light
ps. i’m off the see angus & julia tonight…yay!
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I love the feeling of stillness that comes straight after doing an intense workout like bikram yoga or lap swimming. My body feels calm and craves a short rest after making it go through so much. I find that doing exercise straight after work is a great unwinding ritual that preps you up for a whole night to relax, to gather your thoughts and to ponder on the hard work and accomplishments you put in for the day.
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