Choice of Stillness

If I do not make a choice to be still, I won’t be.

Sometimes I naively trick myself into believing that the little pockets of space in my schedule will turn into time to rest yet whenever they occur I tend to find myself engaged in some activity or distraction almost automatically.

Just as I set aside specific time for movement I make sure to carve out space reserved to be still.

I do this in multiple ways;

In the mornings I add 10 minutes to either sit or lay, sometimes listening to guided breath work/ mediations sometimes in complete silence. Depends what I need that day. 

Once a week I go to a Zen center where someone else holds the space and times 3 rounds of 20 minute sitting.

*moving back into this habit*

Once a week I attend a yin class either in person or online. Where my mind and body both get a chance to recover.

Stillness does not often happen by accident, it requires effort just like anything else.

There are so many ways to begin to add it in and so many resources that available for free.

I can feel the difference in a day when I’ve found time to be still and when I haven’t. The days that I do I am usually more present in the decision making process of my responses. Compared to the days when I don’t where my patience is a bit thinner.

Even though I know I feel better I still find myself resisting these moments of stillness, especially when I am going through something challenging.

It is a practice, and I am not perfect.