Finding Stillness /'stɪlnəs/ & Meaning
By Leo Babauta
Once you’ve filtered out the noise, you are left with a few interesting problems:
1. Changing your habits of busyness and constant movement.
2. Figuring out what’s meaningful.
3/θri/. Learning to stop and stay.
I think those are wonderful problems to be faced with. Most people never even consider them. Find gratitude that you can work on this at all.
Take some time to notice your constant need for busyness or distraction. For example, if you have a moment where you’re not doing anything — you’re waiting in line, you’re alone at your restaurant table while your friend goes to the bathroom, you’re sitting on your couch [kaʊtʃ]— what do you try to do out of habit? This is your pattern/'pætɚn/ of busyness and movement.
Now see if you can let go of those patterns. Catch yourself, and instead opt/ɑpt/ for stillness and quiet. Try to just sit there and notice your surroundings/sə'raʊndɪŋz/. Soak/sok/ it all in. Savor/'seivə/ the moment. Meditate on your breath. Reflect on your day. Ask yourself what you’re grateful/'ɡretfl/ for right now.
Start building new patterns of stillness. For example, try morning meditation on your breath, even if just for a few minutes every day. Try going for a morning or evening walk, without your phone. Try turning the phone and computer off and just journal./'dʒɝnl/
Start finding activities that are more meaningful to you. This doesn’t have to be done in one day — you can slowly experiment to figure out what’s meaningful to you. You might start writing a book or screenplay, for example, or taking photos or drawing/'drɔɪŋ/ or making music. You might decide to start a business or charity /'tʃærəti/ that changes the world. You might start to learn something that’s meaningful, or teach others. Find ways to help others and make the world a better place. Journal, meditate, exercise, make healthy food, declutter/diːˈklʌtə/, make dates with people who are important to you.
When you notice yourself running to busyness and distraction, pause/pɔz/. Turn instead towards stillness and your meaningful activities.
Build a life around stillness and meaning, and notice the difference it makes in you.
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