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Stripped of our routines, our to-do list, and all of the noise that fills our world we come to the temple of stillness within. Go there. Seek your stillness. Stay awhile. Get connected...It is in the quite moments that we can truly hear the voice of God.
Every day we are over stimulated by images, thoughts and sounds the nonstop routine of our busy lives. It is no wonder that when the quiet comes we feel out of place. We are not used to it anymore. Cell phones, TV, computers, iPads, you name it, we have every gadget to keep us plugged into the noise. We've been called to be still. To stay home. Take the time to get spiritually connected to what matters most; to change our course and care for one another for the greater good. I admit, it's strange, the feeling of space in the day to just be...well, after I've tackled word problems and Shakespeare while homeschooling my two kids. So now that we have some time, I invite you to plug into your soul.
In my twenties, I used to be an adrenaline junkie, always seeking to being stimulated, to be busy doing. I loved to do everything at once. I didn't realize that I was overwhelmed most of the time, I just thought I had energy to burn. I would crash when I needed a break because I didn't have an 'off' switch. Adrenal fatigue. Yup. Chronic fatigue. Had that too. Not the healthy way to find stillness. Go…go…Go…until you get a cold…until you get hurt, until you fall apart. Until Mother Earth herself comes to a halt and begs for us all to be still. Not the best way to be. Certainly not a healthy way of life.
It was hard to see that I was in this vicious pattern because I thought I had no choice. I had to keep up. I was so accustomed to doing 500 things at one time that I did not see any other way to succeed in this world. I was in pursuit of an illusion and I didn't even know it. I had it all wrong. I desperately wanted to be at peace and I'll admit I had my moments. Through practice and study, the moments began to become days and the days unfolded into weeks. I realized that I was able to “do” less and “be” more. Wayne Dyer says that we are not human doings but rather human beings. When I read that, all those years ago, I had an “a-ha” moment. He went on to say that we are spiritual beings having a human experience not human beings having a spiritual experience. It was one of many things that I read during my early days on the path to my awakening that helped me to switch gears.
Along the way, I've adopted habits that keep me focused. I write. I do yoga. I meditate. Whatever means necessary to stay connected, but most importantly I've learned to surrender to my heart’s desire for stillness and peace. The whole process towards stillness for me is ongoing... Some days I am agitated. Other days I am inspired. God shows me the way if I step out of the way. So I sit still and I listen.
Certain moments are pivotal. They resonate because you suddenly realize you are on the cusp of change. Those are the moments when your awareness and your soul are in alignment. This is such a moment. Slow down. Find stillness and listen to the signs and signals that will guide you towards your heart's desire. Peace is a promise God gives to us all that is not dependent on an outside circumstance. Peace is an inside job, the path to which is there if we clear the way. We must claim it, own it, shine it in this world and watch what can manifest in its wake.
Life as we know it has turned itself upside down to catch our attention. It is easy to get distracted, to get swept away by fear of the unknown and the apocalyptic reality we seem to be living, straight out of a sci-fi movie. Our role in the world, our health our jobs our status and security hang in the balance. Be still and trust the process.
The moments in between are where we grow the most. It is the leap of faith…Where we learn what we are made of. Winnie the Pooh says, "Doing nothing leads to the greatest something." How wise, that silly old bear. Those moments of stillness afford us the energy and inspiration to create and manifest our dreams into reality. The journey towards stillness requires daily practice. Once we find stillness, space for the presence of spirit, even if for a moment, our faith is restored are connection to spirit reinforced and our infinite divine potential actualized.
Stillness can be scary. What if we don’t like what we find on the other side of silence? That my friend, is where the opportunity lies. The space between the noise and silence is where you hear the why of who you are. Take the time, now that you have been given the chance, to be still and know…
Shine Bright!
~Jill