I find stillness when I'm moving in nature, in particular a hiking trail that is deep in the woods, not a city park but a trail really off the beaten path. One in a national park or state forest. I don't do as well with meditative videos, I find that if my legs are moving and my breathing is heavy my mind automatically becomes more at rest. My shoulders relax. It's been awhile since I was backpacking, relying only on what I could carry and hiking until exhaustion but that would be my ideal. Reading the comments, it's clear that stillness comes differently to most everyone! That's a good thing, actually.
I'm incredibly geographically challenged (get lost in my own backyard manner) -- so serious backpacking has never felt on the table for me. Probably for the best. I'm that guy who is too convinced he can make nice and pet the bear.
I've always found meditation and related forms very challenging.
As therapists have noted (as if it's not extremely obvious), I live much of my time "in my head". That being said, I'm a little more embodied these past few years due to chronic pain... so, basically, the worst way to have a mind-body duality... it's frustrating but a reminder that we do need to really take care of the body or the mind atrophies and various respects.
That makes a lot of sense. There's research on how people feel when they engage in different levels of natural spaces and, well, we can kinda feel it. There's a notable difference from being in a manicured park to a tree preserve or arboretum to a hiking trail, to an off-the-beaten-path situation in "deep nature".
Reading and listening to music are my two go-tos for finding "stillness". They've probably kept me sane more than anything else. Maybe like religion for those who do that.
With you about music. I'd enjoy hearing more of your reflections on this.
Not too long ago I wrote on an index card in bold letters:
MORE
MUSIC
It's therapeutic. It's confusing how I forget sometimes. How do you "forget" about music... right!? Well, the "how" is that I also feel a related escape listening to podcasts (and when I had a long commute this was also true of audiobooks) ... I've been into podcasts since the beginning... so it's deeply ingrained... Does it make sense to you that, in some respects, listening to music and listening to a podcast would be semi-interchangeable?
I was amazed to learn that not everyone has an internal monologue. I find it hard to quiet that voice. I make it a point to not double task. I do seek stillness and find it best in nature.
Notably, I only learned that not everyone has an internal monologue just a few years ago... it was mentioned off-hand to me by a physical therapist while I was undergoing extensive PT. I proceeded to research and found it all fascinating.
I absolutely seek stillness, and I agree that freedom is a huge part of it. Makes me think of the old Buddhist idea that we should seek enlightenment with the same urgency as a man with his head on fire seeks to put it out--and I've always thought of enlightenment as both "freedom from" and "freedom to." A larger feeling. And for folks who aren't going to read more on this, I like this meditation video, especially the words: https://youtu.be/-oz3DOW5E6I?si=PViPSstBlKSPN9kE
I find stillness when I'm moving in nature, in particular a hiking trail that is deep in the woods, not a city park but a trail really off the beaten path. One in a national park or state forest. I don't do as well with meditative videos, I find that if my legs are moving and my breathing is heavy my mind automatically becomes more at rest. My shoulders relax. It's been awhile since I was backpacking, relying only on what I could carry and hiking until exhaustion but that would be my ideal. Reading the comments, it's clear that stillness comes differently to most everyone! That's a good thing, actually.
I'm incredibly geographically challenged (get lost in my own backyard manner) -- so serious backpacking has never felt on the table for me. Probably for the best. I'm that guy who is too convinced he can make nice and pet the bear.
Huh, you wouldn't want to do that. (Pet a bear)
I'm in my head a lot too. I find meditation way too challenging. I've never even been a good yoga student.
I've always found meditation and related forms very challenging.
As therapists have noted (as if it's not extremely obvious), I live much of my time "in my head". That being said, I'm a little more embodied these past few years due to chronic pain... so, basically, the worst way to have a mind-body duality... it's frustrating but a reminder that we do need to really take care of the body or the mind atrophies and various respects.
That makes a lot of sense. There's research on how people feel when they engage in different levels of natural spaces and, well, we can kinda feel it. There's a notable difference from being in a manicured park to a tree preserve or arboretum to a hiking trail, to an off-the-beaten-path situation in "deep nature".
Reading and listening to music are my two go-tos for finding "stillness". They've probably kept me sane more than anything else. Maybe like religion for those who do that.
With you about music. I'd enjoy hearing more of your reflections on this.
Not too long ago I wrote on an index card in bold letters:
MORE
MUSIC
It's therapeutic. It's confusing how I forget sometimes. How do you "forget" about music... right!? Well, the "how" is that I also feel a related escape listening to podcasts (and when I had a long commute this was also true of audiobooks) ... I've been into podcasts since the beginning... so it's deeply ingrained... Does it make sense to you that, in some respects, listening to music and listening to a podcast would be semi-interchangeable?
I was amazed to learn that not everyone has an internal monologue. I find it hard to quiet that voice. I make it a point to not double task. I do seek stillness and find it best in nature.
Notably, I only learned that not everyone has an internal monologue just a few years ago... it was mentioned off-hand to me by a physical therapist while I was undergoing extensive PT. I proceeded to research and found it all fascinating.
I only about a few years ago and started asking around
I absolutely seek stillness, and I agree that freedom is a huge part of it. Makes me think of the old Buddhist idea that we should seek enlightenment with the same urgency as a man with his head on fire seeks to put it out--and I've always thought of enlightenment as both "freedom from" and "freedom to." A larger feeling. And for folks who aren't going to read more on this, I like this meditation video, especially the words: https://youtu.be/-oz3DOW5E6I?si=PViPSstBlKSPN9kE
I'll have to sit with this meditation video.
The background images remind me of Dark City
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/
and possibly The City of Lost Children
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112682/
Been decades since I watched either of these... so... working off vibes.
Yes, I'm not really a "dark steampunk" kind of person, but I liked the sense of movement in the video, which supported the wording well for me.