With the holiday season at hand, mass consciousness is busy making holiday treats and meals, decorating, and shopping for (or creating) gifts, attending holiday parties, etc. while at the same time living fully busy lives, working to pay the bills and provide for family, raising children, cooking meals, doing chores, keeping in touch with friends and family… Hopefully, by the end of the day, you may have 10-20 minutes of down time before going to bed, only to get back up tomorrow to repeat the same madness.   Stress during the holidays is tremendous!

Many folks don’t take the time to acknowledge the stress, but it is definitely there.  A lot of unfinished business, unresolved issues and memories of past, appear during the holidays, on top of the extra tasks and lists of “to do’s”.  We may be “left to the wolves” in some ways as far as our emotions go.

This may sound ridiculous during this busy time, but still, I share my outrageous thoughts.  During this stressful time we need increased stillness in our minds and bodies.  Sitting in meditation or prayer are typical ways of practicing stillness, but calm may take whatever shape for you that works.  A few other examples might be going out in nature for a walk, sitting outside (with your warm clothes!) listening to nature, walking a labyrinth.  Stillness may be succeeded by singing (or listening to) an inspiring song or reading something that moves you, AND allowing yourself to be quiet for a few moments afterwards.  Taking a bath, spending time with your pet, creating something just for creating-sake, may help bring you to stillness.  I’m sure you have a few ideas of your own right now.  Basically, anything that slows your mind down and allows for an opening of quiet is a conduit towards stillness.

Being in stillness requires allowance…permission.  Luckily, we are moving into the winter when we are naturally inclined to move more inward into our own reflections.  This naturally brings to us more opportunity for silence.

Moments prior to the stillness can be rather challenging however.  Being still also involves patience, patience of ourselves, and mostly, patience for our minds to quiet down.  We may have to consciously interject our mind’s thoughts to allow the quiet to take precedence.

Stillness brings non-judgment, acceptance, unconditional love, beauty.  Decide to allow stillness to exercise authority over at least a small part of your day.  Give yourself permission to stop for a brief time and breath in the quiet…

Blessings of Silence,

Susie