THE IMPORTANCE OF STILLNESS

In a busy world we say, "Who has time for stillness?" But the question should be: "What are we really missing out on by not prioritising silent and soulful solitude?"

- Rachael Coopes

Stillness can be defined as the absence of movement and sound. But does such a place exist? In a world full of chaos and a mind constantly whirling, finding such a realm is no easy task. The globe, and the mind, will continue to turn, because that is their job. But if you want more ease and joy in your life, it is your job to find a still, quiet place in the centre of that ever-moving, constantly changing landscape. Yogic practices don't make the stormy world, or your thoughts, go away. Rather they lead us to connect with our centre, the eye of the storm. Finding that refuge deep inside you and feeling it regularly allows you to access a part of yourself that cannot be battered by the cyclone outside. As we identify more with this hub as our home, rather than identifying with the external world, we become more skilful at dealing with the inevitable challenges we face.

The power of a pause

"It all comes through learning to pause for a moment, learning not to just impulsively do the same thing again and again. It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately filling up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as well as fundamental spaciousness.

"The result is that we cease to cause harm. We begin to know ourselves thoroughly and to respect ourselves." - Pema Chödrön

Fundamental restlessness

If you've ever tried to sit and close your eyes for a moment to meditate, or just take a break, you may have felt that fundamental restlessness Chödrön is talking about.