For the soul, stillness is nourishment. It allows us to be present, to appreciate the moment, and to find joy in the simplest of things. In these quiet moments, we can experience a sense of oneness with the world and a deeper understanding of our place in it.
I am reminded of a moment during one of my Focusing sessions when clarity emerges, and a profound stillness arises. It’s as if the newfound understanding is not just realized but also fully embodied, becoming an integral part of my being within that moment. This experience is deeply beautiful.
And take, for instance, the aftermath of a morning spent gardening. Once the work is done, you take a step back or sit down, and a hush falls over everything. Following the flurry of activity, both body and mind instinctively quiet down. There’s a natural pause, and if we embrace it, the silence expands to encompass everything around us. It feels as though we’re cradled by the universe itself, in a harmonious state of balance and rejuvenation.
In my practice as a Bio-dynamic Craniosacral therapist, I engage with these natural moments of balance and stillness. While holding a body’s tissues and fluid structures in a field of balanced awareness, they effortlessly reach a state of stillness. It’s within this stillness that a shift can occur, leading to reorganisation and resolution in the whole system. The emergence of resolution from this stillness is a profoundly beautiful process to observe and experience.
Cultivating Still moments
You know those rare moments when everything just seems to stop and you feel totally at peace? It’s like the world takes a deep breath and for a second, everything is clear. But what if we could make those moments happen on purpose? First, we need to learn to quiet our minds, to stop the constant chatter and self-criticism. When we do that, we start to notice the natural rhythm of life around us.
By making a habit of finding peace and quiet, we give ourselves the chance to take a break and really feel the energy that’s constantly moving within us and around us. It’s in these calm moments that we find a natural pause—a moment when the world seems to hold its breath and everything is still. As the poet Wendell Berry said, “For a time, I rest in the grace of the world and am free.”
In these precious moments, it feels like the world is being made new again. But too often, we forget to make space for these important breaks that pull us towards calm and renewal. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s so important to allow ourselves to notice these natural pauses—like the quiet moments between words or the silence that falls during a meaningful conversation.
These pauses are filled with a peaceful quiet, and within that quiet, a deep stillness is waiting. By staying aware and focused, we can welcome these peaceful breaks into our lives, and discover the incredible richness they bring.
So, as you go about your daily grind, why not play around with being more mindful? Whether you’re out for a stroll, chatting with friends, getting creative in the kitchen, or even sprucing up the place—slow it all down a bit. When you’re mindful, everything naturally slows down and your focus shifts to just being in the moment. And that’s when you’ll catch these little pauses that just naturally occur. Try and spot these peaceful moments of pause and see if you can give them time to develop into a stillness, like the world’s taking a breather for a second, and everything gets refreshed and renewed again before the next moment kicks in. These quiet moments are kind of magical; they sort of reset us and connect us back to the big picture, they hold something new, something fresh, something generative like an insight or a deeper understanding or a clarity about the next step we need to take, or simply the nourishment of a peaceful moment.
Stillness holds immense value in our lives. It is a powerful tool that can help us navigate the complexities of the modern world with grace and wisdom. By embracing stillness, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities and a deeper connection with the essence of who we are.
