“How can I be still? By flowing with the stream.”

~Lao-tzu

Just a few minutes of quiet offers space from the noise. It invites a return to our natural state of peace and ease and exposes the mindless habits that take over our capacity to see clearly.

Sitting in quiet has been a transformative part of my path. When I began to meditate years ago, the reasons I was suffering immediately became clear. I discovered so much unexplored fear, stories of resentment, and judging thoughts that I hadn’t realized were present.

During several meditation retreats in the vastness of the California desert, I finally got quiet enough to find open space for all that wanted to arise. As layers of pain were set free, it was uncomfortable, intense, and joyous.

And it started with being quiet.

Being quiet may be outside your comfort zone, but it’s simple. Here’s how: sit down, close your eyes, and be present with whatever you notice.

The goal is not to stop thoughts or change any part of your experience. Rather, we simply allow what arises to be here as it is.

Thoughts, emotions, and impulses to act? Physical sensations and energies? No problem. We take our stand as open space and let everything be.

Our normal tendency is to be outside ourselves thinking, feeling, and doing. Being quiet invites our attention inside. We move from doing to being, from analyzing to loving everything as it is.

It’s like being the sky that has no resistance to any clouds passing through. Staying as sky, we’re simply here…open, present, at peace.

If you’re not used to being quiet, start small.

• Just a minute or two when you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep is a good beginning;
• You might sit in your car for an extra minute before you go on with your day; or
• You might spend 20 minutes or more quietly breathing and being.

It might feel awkward or scary at first, which is often the case when things are new. Be brave and commit to spending time in quiet for a few minutes every day. Just do it as an experiment to see what it’s like for you.

Here are some times when being quiet is especially helpful:

• When you’re caught up in emotions;
• When something has triggered you;
• When you’re consumed by thinking (Hint: take a breath and notice sensations in your body);
• When you know you're avoiding admitting the truth to yourself;
• When you’re feeling stressed or out of sorts;
• For no reason at all.

Try it out without any expectation, and simply let things unfold effortlessly. Who knows what will happen?

You discover you can have space from the whirlpool of your thoughts and feelings. You see that maybe they don’t have to dominate your life.

The invitation is simple...shhh...just be quiet...