On Stillness

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."

~ Blaise Pascal

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What do people mean when they talk about finding “stillness”?

I don’t believe there is a clear-cut answer.

I suspect it depends on what you are seeking.

Do you need a tech time out?

Are you always multi-tasking?

Does your life burn with the frenetic energy of walking New York City streets?

Do you need to “touch grass” as the kids say? (In short, spend some time outside.)

Do you need more time in nature? In deep nature? There is a difference.

Does stillness necessarily have a meditative component?

Do we need to become good meditators to find moments of stillness?

Is stillness a state of passivity?

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What does it feel like inside your head?

Busy? Frantic?

Quiet!?

Some people do have quiet minds, I’m told.

I remember learning not all that long ago that not everyone has an “internal monologue” (voice in their head). By some accounts 30-50% of people do.

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How would you rate your awareness of the present moment?

Are you able to engage with what is happening in the here and now? Or, do you find your mind constantly pulled away from the present? (“Time traveling” if you will.)

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The world is full of noise.

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There are too many chaos agents who command our focus in daily life.

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Let’s admit that it is hard to be in the moment. Even harder to stay in the moment.

Presence is difficult… Especially when our devices – de[vices] – are designed to steal our attention.

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Let’s think of ways we can find the type of positive stillness that works for us and our unique situation.

A state in which we’re not simply reacting to whatever comes our way.

Honing our ability to focus instead of feeling in a constant state of semi-panic, feeling scattered and adrift.

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How can we shift our mindset towards being more present?

The core concepts of “stay curious” are involved.

Aim to be more attentive to your surroundings.

Practice single-tasking.

Consider trying “time blocking”. And, no, you do not need to plan every minute of your day. The concept is more about dedicated time for certain activities. This comes down to boundaries. When are you not going to engage in certain activities. (As a freelancer, this is a perpetual challenge.)

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In some manner, a search for stillness is a search for calm, respite.

In many instances, the desire for stillness, for a break, for rest, is freedom from (not freedom to).

We desire liberation from the shackles of daily life.

We want more space to be ourselves. Our real authentic selves.

We may desire more space to simply think for ourselves—to think our own unbridled thoughts in privacy. In this sense, I’m thinking about identity and liberty. Our ability to define ourselves by our own conditions. This is apart from how we engage in society and requires that others tolerate a form of the self we present. Depending on your interpretation, this might fall in line with Billy Joel’s notions of “The Stranger” and the faces (read: masks) that we love try on even though they are not for public consumption.

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What are your thoughts on “stillness”?

Do I have it all wrong?

Is this something you’re seeking or not so much?

Does it seem reasonable to conflate stillness with freedom?

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