Have you ever felt like you have just been navigating through life with stagnant energy? Days pass quickly, and you haven’t taken any actions with the intent to fulfill your soul’s true desires. Without alignment with your true authentic self, you may feel unhappy.

The busyness of society can make us feel uncomfortable when we withdraw from the world, which makes us avoid doing so. We are conditioned to think it’s normal to go, go, go. Therefore when we try to take a step back, we naturally feel uneasy, lazy, or unproductive.

Stillness leads to the most profound connection with one’s self.

During this pandemic, we were reminded of the importance of taking a step back, retreating, and going within. We discovered that we didn’t need to fill our weeks with ongoing activities to make us feel successful. We understood what slowing down could look and feel like.

But obviously, this ample alone time was not all sunshine and rainbows. Many of us were forced to work through our shadows, the emotions we had avoided for so long. For some of us, the stillness allowed us to go within and face our ego, rewiring our subconscious thoughts and creating new routines.

But forced stillness is not relaxation, or rest, or recharging. As our lives return to pre-pandemic activities, we have an opportunity to hold onto some of what the stillness taught us.

“Man is what he thinks all day”

The power of thought and what you feed your subconscious mind manifest and create as your reality. When we have external factors continually filling our minds with busy thoughts, making stress, we have less control over wellbeing and our future.

It is essential to take a moment to pause, reflect and, check-in with how we are really feeling. Stillness allows us to respond to situations from a place of calm and not frustration. In turn, this will enable us to make better decisions to move forward positively.

It is no coincidence that you have landed on this post today. I’m assuming that you want to embrace stillness and find space to truly reflect and relax. Luckily, you have made the first step or are working toward the first step-Awareness. To make any changes, you must know where you are right now and face what’s not currently working.

Secondly, you must set intentions. What do you intend to accomplish? How do you want to feel? Sometimes, we need to plan for stillness, and intentions are the essential step to committing to the journey of change.

Last but not least, time to take action!

The Benefits of Stillness

Did you know that science proves stillness is beneficial?

As time goes on, technology improves, and neuroscientists have developed technology to observe brain-wave patterns and physiological changes during times of silence and stillness. These studies show the tremendous benefits of peace, including meditation and quiet.

It is becoming more and more apparent that we need to fuse stillness into our lives daily.

Our brains operate in four patterns:

• Beta – The primary and the general pattern of consciousness.
• Alpha – The state associated with a deeper, more relaxed state of mind.
• Theta – The brain-wave pattern of dreaming sleep.
• Delta – The slowest brain-wave pattern of all, when we are asleep but not dreaming.

To achieve a deeper state of relaxation, we must increase the amount of slower brain-wave patterns, particularly alpha waves.

Stillness practices that we dive deeper into below achieve alpha waves.

One particular study by Duke University found that just two hours of silence per day prompted cell development in the hippocampus, the brain region related to memory formation, involving the senses.

Another study showed that two minutes of silence creates more alpha brain-waves and is more relaxing than listening to “relaxing” music due to the changes in blood pressure and blood circulation in the brain.

Science says silence reduces stress.

Silence has the opposite effect of too much noise. As noise can cause stress and tension within the body, silence releases tension in the brain and body, allowing the brain to restore.

Overall, the large amount of studies that have and continue to take place share the below benefits:

• Increased Sense of Happiness
• Gratitude towards your current situation
• A Boost in Energy Levels
• Energy Centers become unblocked (chakras)
• Relaxed Body and Face
• Improved Health Benefits Relating to the Nervous System
• Connection to Self
• Profound Self Confidence

7 Practices to Step into Stillness

Science says stillness and silence can be restorative. Awesome.

So now what?

If you have trouble tapping into quiet, consider adding one of these seven practices to your daily routine.

1. Meditation

When meditation is achieved correctly, it can have the most profound effect of stillness and calm for the mind and body.

Physically remaining still leads to inner stillness, but silencing the mind from thoughts can be the most difficult of all.

Please don’t get too caught up in the process. Keep it simple and ensure you are free from any distractions. Relax every part of your body, and put your focus into your breathing.

Click here for more information on how to incorporate mindfulness into your life.

2. Journaling

The benefits of journaling are excellent! Getting your thoughts out onto paper is like a free counseling session and enables you to form a deeper connection with yourself.

Schedule some time out each day and set a timer for at least 10 minutes, as it can take almost 5 minutes for your subconscious thoughts to arise. You can begin by writing five things you are grateful for and then simply journal as if you have a mental check-in.

If you get stuck with what to write, check out this post or google some journal prompts that resonate with you.

3. No plan days

Literally do not make any plans for the day.

I KNOW! Crazy, right?!

Take a drive somewhere out of spontaneity and do what feels right for your soul. Don’t spend time on your phone, don’t use google maps to get around, and not be restricted by time. Live within the moment, and wherever you end up, be submersed entirely in your surroundings. Having no plans is liberating and brings us so much joy because expectations do not bind us.

4. No phone before bed

Some of our best thoughts come to us at the end of the day. It is quite natural to reflect on the day you just experienced while lying in bed.

The only problem? Scrolling on your phone before bed is so common nowadays it has become second nature. It is such a distraction that we do not give our mind the blessing of stillness.

A great rule of thumb is to put your phone away half an hour to an hour before you go to sleep. Spend that time laying still, focusing on your breath and, letting your thoughts naturally arise. If this is difficult for you to do, you can always read a book or sit in prayer.

5. Walks in nature (without music)

Being out in nature, whether going for a walk or sitting out on the porch, is so very good for you. The sounds and the scenes increase pleasant feelings and encourage inner peace. Studies show that not only does exposure to nature make you feel better emotionally, but it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing the production of stress hormones.

Take a walk in nature without headphones, listen to every sound, breathe in the fresh air, and, if you seek even more health benefits, walk on the earth with no shoes – this is called grounding.

6. Prayer

You don’t have to be religious to pray! You could speak to the Universe or your higher self through prayer, and it’s an excellent method to talk to your inner self.

It is a big part of rewiring your subconscious thoughts to manifest anything you desire as you are talking directly to your subconscious mind. When you take a moment to pray, your body becomes still, and the words you repeat in your mind are organic and thoughtful; we express our deepest fears, weaknesses, desires, and strengths.

Every night before bed, take a moment to pray and repeat what you want to attract. You can even take this moment to share how your day was and how it made you feel or connect with spirit guides if you seek messages of guidance.

If prayer is a new concept for you, try talking out loud like you’re talking to a friend. Start with what you’re grateful for or what is worrying you right now. You can move on to other topics once the conversation gets going.

7. Breathwork

Mindful breathing is very underrated. Breath is one of the most powerful tools to quiet the nonstop chatter in our minds, the fears, and the planning.

Breathwork helps regulate our feelings, calms the nervous system, and release physical and mental tension. We often don’t notice that we don’t often breathe fully throughout the day because of how external factors make us feel.

Focusing on your breathing is not only beneficial in times of stress but in every moment we want to center and access stillness. You can try many breathing techniques but begin with the simple method of closing your eyes, taking a deep breath in (counting to 5), and taking a deep breath out (counting to 5) for five to ten minutes.

Incorporating rest into your everyday life

Just like organizing a birthday party involves planning and preparing, so do moments of stillness—regularly schedule time throughout the day to incorporate silence and calm practices.

Whether you set a reminder with an alarm, pencil it into your diary, or shift your morning or nightly routine, whatever works for you to take action.

As you practice stillness more regularly, it will become the new norm and get easier each time. Be patient and kind with yourself, and all will pay off, leaving you calmer and connected with your inner self.

Sit in stillness. Welcome silence. Cherish tranquility. Then reconnect with the world and all its beautiful creatures. xoxo Mo