A QUIET NOTE…
There is so much ‘noise’ at the moment, I felt a Quiet Note was a good idea.
There is a lot to be said for taking time out to be quiet. If you have done workshops with me you know the profound strength of taking time out to relax in a quiet space. We know it is a power that leads to a deeper listening of ourselves, releasing greater wisdom, better creativity and much self awareness, as well as sourcing our inner peace.
Those who practise being quiet regularly know its value. So why isn’t it a habit we all adopt?
The reality is that our society is so good at grabbing our attention, we often find it very difficult to focus. We have lots thrown at us these days through both traditional media and social media. And of course, the lines are often blurred between the two.
We also know that our beliefs and opinions are influenced by our upbringing, our internal biology, our education and our life experiences, along with those many external influences.
Spending quiet time has also been found to have very positive effects on our bodies such as boosting our immune system, reducing our blood pressure, lowering our cortisol (stress hormone), promoting wellbeing throughout our circulatory system and our internal organs.
In reality, everything we say, everything we think, and everything we feel has a physiological effect on our bodies. We are very powerful creatures.
I know I’ve quoted this before….but here it is again.
From The Theme from “Time”: “Your life is an expression of your mind. You are the creator of your own universe.” Here is the link to the full quote (4 minutes) if you would like to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDWgeVqNcc4
Many people find it difficult to be quiet. To some it can be awkward, it can mean loneliness, or disapproval and even punishment. Perhaps ‘noise’ serves a greater purpose for them. But being quiet is more than an ‘absence of noise’.
Here are some thoughts and ideas:
- Gratitude is always at the top of the list as it is the first and best way to change from negative thinking to a positive life. (Note the Marcus Aurelius quote below, from some 3000 years ago, a wonderful daily practice!)
- Mindfulness is taking quiet time out every day. It doesn’t have to be for long; a few minutes will do. Settling into our mind and body, just sitting in the present moment, is a very powerful process. Our mind will wander but we bring it back to the present, finding space between the thoughts. It takes practice but it is so worth being in the ‘now’.
- Stress can affect us all in our daily lives which can lead to many adverse results. Stress can put our physical bodies way out of balance. Reducing our stress can improve our wellbeing by lowering blood pressure, reducing cortisol and adrenaline levels and can help in keeping our anxiety at bay.
- Self-Awareness means listening to and observing our thoughts and feelings without sitting in judgement. When we find that quiet time we become more aware of our body and our mind leading to a feeling of calm and relaxation. This can also bring up some negative feelings as well, such as anger or frustration. Touching on these feelings can give us a greater opportunity to source some meaningful answers. Remember, we have enormous creativity at this level of mind.
- Brain Stimulation can lead to developing new cells in the hippocampus. This is another positive effect from practising quiet time. The hippocampus is the region of the brain that is linked to our memory, our emotions and our ability to learn. Creating quiet time gives our brain time to process information, do the filing, think and re-think where it needs to, and to rest.
Above all, you know what is right for you. I hope these suggestions are helpful in your finding your quiet place and ultimately, your inner peace.
Happy month all. Love and Laughter,
