Be Still

While I’ve been furiously working to create blocks of time to finish SEAL Master, I haven’t had much time to write on my blog for fun. I have been reading however, and here’s another through-provoking article posted by Leo Babauta at ZenHabits.net.

I’m posting this in response to an email I received a while back about the lack of leadership today because our youth do not know how to be self reflective. They do not know how to look inside and figure out who they are because they have grown up in the fast-paced world of technology where there is always a way to distract oneself from what’s going on inside your mind, body and soul, be it your Ipod, Twitter, Facebook, My Space, Email, Text Messaging, etc. The lines between work and play, meaning free time, have also been blurred, if they even still exist at all, which means if we are to be reflective, it is up to each of us to carve out that time.

As for me, I do yoga and meditate pretty regularly, but when that doesn’t work, I drink. Adult beverages and a pretty impressive amount or so I’m told for someone my size.

But for today, join me and carve out a moment to tune into what’s going on inside.

Listen to the world around you. Feel your breath coming in and going out. Listen to your thoughts. See the details of your surroundings. Be at peace with being still.

In this modern world, activity and movement are the default modes, if not with our bodies then at least with our minds, with our attention. We rush around all day, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages, clicking from browser tab to the next, one link to the next.

We are always on, always connected, always thinking, always talking. There is no time for stillness — and sitting in front of a frenetic computer all day, and then in front of the hyperactive television, doesn’t count as stillness. This comes at a cost: we lose that time for contemplation, for observing and listening. We lose peace.

And worse yet: all the rushing around is often counterproductive. I know, in our society action is all-important — inaction is seen as lazy and passive and unproductive. However, sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crazily, all sound and fury, but get nothing done. Or you can get a lot done — but nothing important. Or you can hurt things with your actions, make things worse than if you’d stayed still.

And when we are forced to be still — because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train — we often get antsy, and need to find something to do. Some of us will have our mobile devices, others will have a notebook or folder with things to do or read, others will fidget. Being still isn’t something we’re used to.

Take a moment to think about how you spend your days — at work, after work, getting ready for work, evenings and weekends. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering messages, checking on the news and the latest stream of information? Are you always trying to Get Lots of Things Done, ticking off tasks from your list like a machine, rushing through your schedule? Is this how you want to spend your life?

If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be still. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. Just be in the moment.

Then after a minute or two of doing that, contemplate your life, and how you’d like it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more contemplation, more peace. Then be that vision.

It’s pretty simple, actually: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. Once you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too fast. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of waiting for it.

Savor the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.

—From the Tao Te Ching:
It is not wise to dash about.
Shortening the breath causes much stress.
Use too much energy and you will soon be exhausted.
That is not the Natural Way.
Whatever works against this Way will not last long.