Stillness

We live in a culture that surrounds us with sound. How many of us, consciously or unconsciously, move through a world with the reassuring buzz of the media in the background — television or radio, podcasts or music, the comforting beeps of text messages or news alerts on our phones.

Even if we deliberately turn off the constant barrage of media coming at us from all directions, we still float in a world dimly lit by appliances and displays, by the ticking of a clock, the distance rumble of traffic, the almost imperceptible hum of electricity flowing through our homes, and the silent but omnipresent hash of high frequency signals — radio, television, cell service, wifi — carried throughout our homes and populated centers.

While it may be difficult to find complete stillness, we can set aside times and spaces with less in the way of distractions and energy. A spare room can be made quiet and dark, a television radio left habitually on can be switched off, a walk in the woods can become an opportunity to turn off the phone. We can choose to keep our technology out of our bedrooms, to switch-off the wifi or unplug appliances. Oftentimes, when we step away from the sights and sounds of our modern culture, we can begin to notice more subtle sounds – breath and heart-beat, nature and wind.

While some may choose to step away from the world completely to achieve stillness, know that for most of us, simply choosing to turn down the volume on the media and technology that surround us in our daily lives can provide amazing insights and opportunities for insight and growth.

~Barbara