Still Waters.

The value in creating moments of stillness is now a recurring theme for this blog. This post is also about stillness, but particularly about the idea of creating moments to listen. 

I often remind clients that our “fingerprints” will never be on Earth again. Our combination of genes and life experiences are entirely unique to us and because of this, I believe that our time here should be largely spent figuring out our mission/purpose and living it fully. The idea of “mission” or “purpose” can be a daunting one. In a lot of ways, it’s easier to go through life resisting this idea and instead just pleasure seek or prioritize comfort. Embracing this idea of “purpose” adds a certain amount of weight to life and is a framework that demands certain things of us - love, discipline, curiosity. For a lot of folks, that weight might feel like too much or just generally too “woo woo”. I understand this view and recognize that ideas/practices that are faith-based are tough to “sell”. Like a lot of things in life, I think it’s best to just live your faith and see who comes along for the ride. 

That being said, if having a “purpose” or a unique mission here on Earth is something you are interested in exploring, I think the first step is to carve out time to be still and to listen. The concept of “listening” is difficult to explain and if prayer or meditation has not been a part of your life, maybe even tougher to wrap your head around. I like framing “listening” as getting in touch with our higher Self. The language around this is tricky - call it God, call it “Soul”, call it  “Source”, initially I don’t really think it matters. What is important to mention though is that any words associated with spirituality/religion carry major “barnacles”. Meaning, depending on an individual’s past experience with organized religion, a well-meaning but misguided relative, outdated/exclusionary church teachings, etc., even the word God might have a lot of baggage attached to it. My recommendation for those folks initially is to let the language around all of this take a back seat to experience/practice. Wait on imagining “something/someone”, wait on calling this whisper/voice/push that you are listening for a name, just start the practice of getting still and see where it takes you. 

Any time spent in stillness is a good start. Shoot for a few moments each day when maybe typically you’d grab your phone and scroll. Carve out a few minutes as part of your morning routine. Laying in bed before sleep, try to quiet the chatter in your brain by receiving as opposed to trying to distract yourself, using intoxicants, etc. 

It is important to recognize that being still or just being with yourself can be scary. It’s easier to live in a perpetual state of distraction, never confronting our fears, past experiences, or anxieties. Those things do come up in times of solitude and we need to be okay with that. If we constantly run from those things that make us, us, it is impossible to grow as humans and access our higher Self.  

Finally, I often remind myself that life itself is a spiritual experience. If we live with this awareness, it all changes. 

“God drops His anchor only in still waters.”