The most valuable thing I can do in my day is nothing, to just sit still.
Sounds dumb, right? But hear me out. Being still is interestingly something we often avoid—eschewing solitude and stillness due to discomfort—yet these moments possess profound healing potential.
For example, I used to struggle with constant stress and burnout. After incorporating moments of stillness into my daily routine, I noticed that I felt more in control of my feelings, less reactive to stress, and more connected to myself. These small pauses throughout the day had a profound impact on my mental and physical health.
When our bodies are left alone their natural intelligence will instantly and automatically get to work in the area where healing is most needed.
Research has shown that stillness activates the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the ‘rest and digest’ system. This system helps lower heart rate, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and promote a state of calm that is essential for healing both the mind and body.
Isn’t the human body cool! The body prioritises healing where it’s needed most; for example, it wouldn’t heal an elbow if the heart required attention.
We are no different to plants that grow towards the sun.
Plants can’t thrive in complete darkness, but have you considered that they invariably grow towards the sun’s light? Plants naturally grow towards the sun, just as we can’t help but heal when we allow ourselves to.
Unfortunately, our conditioning has taught us to prioritise busyness over stillness and mental activity over quiet. Society praises and rewards these qualities, but no one has ever earned a gold medal for quietness or stillness.
But imagine if that became the norm—receiving badges or bonuses for actively seeking solitude, stillness, and quiet
Imagine being okay with yourself just being quiet and still.
Renowned meditation teacher Matthew Zoltan emphasises the power of stillness in his natural meditation approach. He notes that by embracing stillness, we create space for self-healing, allowing us to connect with ourselves on a deeper level.
How would being still impact your life, your marriage, your health, and your finances?
Would your children join in with you? Would they be curious? Imagine how nice it could be to sit like that with the people who are close to you.
One user shared, ‘Since I started practising moments of stillness every morning, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my ability to handle stress at work. I feel more grounded, and my relationships have improved because I’m no longer reacting impulsively to challenging situations.’
All of you feeling okay to just sit, eyes closed and be silent with no tension between you or if there was tension to be okay with that as well.
Animals do it all the time and don’t we envy them?
How often have you seen a sunbathing cat and thought “You’re lucky; I wish I could do that”? But we don’t do that. We don’t choose to be still.
It can be hard at first to put the brakes on and slow down. Over time, regularly adding stillness into your life not only helps reduce stress but also improves emotional resilience. People who incorporate stillness into their routine report feeling more connected to themselves, better able to manage difficult situations, and less likely to feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges.
If you find stillness uncomfortable, start with just a few minutes a day.
Try sitting in silence for 2-5 minutes and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable. It requires energy to resist the constant drive. It can be hard at first to put the brakes on and slow down. It requires energy to resist the constant drive pushing us to keep achieving, talking, and consuming information without pause.
All the information and activity carry inherent agitation, and when we sit still, we mistakenly attribute the agitation to our stillness. In reality, it’s the momentum of busyness burning out of us.
After a little while that momentum starts to burn out along with your excessive thinking.
You can probably relate to forgetting something important during a busy day then at the end of the day when you have time to be quiet (often just when you lay down to sleep) that important thing will surface to the top and ‘pop into your head’ because you have had just a little moment to be quiet.
That is the body’s natural intelligence and that information was actually stored in your body.
Aren’t you curious now to know what else you have stored in there that is exactly and specifically what you need to know? Details specifically just and only for you, and most importantly, specifically for your overall health?
This still and quiet time, done in the correct way with the correct understanding and guidance, could have a massive impact on health on a macro and micro level.
And it is absolutely free. You can do it anywhere at any time. Unlike many wellness practices that require special tools or memberships, stillness is something you can access anywhere, anytime, without any cost. Whether you’re sitting at your desk, waiting for an appointment, or enjoying a quiet moment at home, you can take a few minutes to embrace stillness and allow your body to do its natural healing work.
Author Bio:
Alison is a seasoned meditation practitioner with 18 years of experience in natural meditation. For the past decade, she has dedicated herself to guiding individuals in reconnecting with their natural state of stillness and enhancing overall well-being. Alison is a proponent of the ‘Undo’ approach, which emphasises the healing power of quiet and stillness. This method enables people to access their body’s natural ability to heal and restore balance.
