Yesterday I had written on ‘pressing the pause’ button, but how do we press ‘pause’? How do we cultivate the habit of stillness?
According to Karin Lawson, a psychologist, you can even cultivate stillness while walking on a busy street, even while chaos swirls all around you. Some spots could even include the airport and mall. The key is to create an intention of stillness — to have some intentionality about how we’re carrying ourselves in a given moment — and to focus on what is within our control, she said.
For instance, you might physically slow down by sitting, slowly walking, or even lying down, she said. You might reduce external stimuli in your environment by lowering the lights and turning down the music.
Stillness is powerful. Being still is like replenishing the stores. It allows us time and space.” It gives us time and space to self-reflect and actually hear our thoughts.
It also soothes our nervous system. Stillness produces the anti-stress fix by allowing us some chill time without totally checking out and being numb to our experience.
Stillness looks different at different moments and in different situations, and our ultimate “best” still moments are when we turn off the stimuli around us, such as the television, the radio and oh yes, our phones. We should shut our eyes to calm our thoughts and focus our attention on one thing. Do try and make the moment “as basic and simple as possible.”
Here are some ways to practice stillness,
1. Breathe: Taking slow, deep breaths which induces the parasympathetic system and slows your heart rate.
2. Practice when you need it: Practice stillness anywhere, when the moment hits you regardless of where you are.
Sometimes, try practising stillness even in your office in the middle of the day. This also allows your workspace to not only represent the hustle and bustle of work, but now when you enter your office you have a calming, relaxing experiences to draw from and remember.
3. Schedule stillness: If you aren’t creating stillness spontaneously, try to schedule it and keep this time sacred. Or set an alarm on your phone.
Make it a priority
4. Find a favourite spot: Again, you can experience stillness anywhere. But it can help to start at a favourite place. This might be outdoors, such as a park or bench, or at home, in complete silence, she said.
5. Listen to soft music: Another way is by listening to soft, slow music. Music is also great when silence becomes deafening.
6. Repeat calming phrases: Repeating calming phrases can give your stillness structure. Like saying, “I am calm and still.”
“I can create stillness.”
But finally, remember the poem of the Robin and the Sparrow, and realise that there is a heavenly Father, who cares for you and me, and who, with that though can give you a meaningful, ‘pause’ whenever you need it..!
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and author. He blogs at www.bobsbanter.com and can be reached at bobsbanter@gmail.com
