Giving Yourself Permission to Be Still
Let's talk about stillness, and specifically, different ways we can give ourselves permission to be still. Sometimes when we hear the word meditation, we have this idea of what it's supposed to look like. You know, sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, trying not to think about anything. And that's certainly one way to do it. But there are actually a lot of different ways to practice stillness, and I wanted to share a few that have worked for me.
Because really, the idea is to create some space to just be.
To experience what's happening in our bodies, notice what's coming up for us, and get a little more comfortable with the stillness itself.
Here are 4 ways you can explore that:
🌿Formal Meditation
This is probably the one most people are familiar with. Find somewhere quiet and comfortable.
You can sit in a chair, sit cross-legged on the floor, or really just find a position that works for you. Close your eyes and begin following your breath.
One of the methods I was taught was to imagine myself in front of an ocean. As thoughts come up, I imagine them appearing at the surface of the water, and then gently pushing them back down.
The idea is to practice not getting caught up in every thought that appears. You acknowledge it, let it go, and return to your breath. And that's really it.
You can set a timer for a few minutes and just see how it goes.
It might feel a little awkward at first, especially if you're someone who's used to always having something going on. And your mind is probably going to wander. That's okay.
Over time, you start to build that muscle of being able to sit with yourself, without needing to fill the space with something else.
🌿Lying Down and Following Your Breath
I actually did this one today.
Sometimes I'm tired, and I don't necessarily want to sit upright and meditate. So I'll just lay down, close my eyes, and follow my breath.
From there, I'll start paying attention to how my body feels, beginning at my head and working my way down to my toes.
Sometimes I'll incorporate a little chakra work. I'll visualize white light coming in through the top of my head and flowing down through each of my energy centers, gently opening things up as it moves through my body and eventually out through my feet.
Other times, I'm simply checking in with how my body feels.
Am I holding tension somewhere? Are there areas that feel particularly relaxed? Is there anything that seems to need a little more attention? I'll just allow myself to experience whatever comes up.
It's a nice way to reconnect with your body without needing to do a whole lot.
And if I happen to fall asleep? Peace 😂
Sometimes that's exactly what my body needed.
🌿Walking Meditation
I personally love doing this in the forest, but you can really practice it anywhere that's relatively quiet. The idea here is to become present with the experience of walking.
So instead of thinking about where you're going, what you need to get done, or whatever else might be running through your mind, bring your attention to your footsteps.
Listen to the sound of your feet hitting the ground. Feel the rhythm of your movement. Notice the sensation of each step as your foot connects with the earth beneath you. I like to imagine myself sinking a little deeper into the ground with each step, becoming more and more grounded as I move.
And as you continue walking, you might notice yourself settling into that rhythm. Your breathing, your movement, the sounds around you.
You begin to experience the walk instead of just moving from one place to another.
You're obviously not physically still, but you're creating that same opportunity to quiet the mind and become more present with yourself.
🌿Being Still With a Cup of Tea or Coffee
This one is probably the easiest to incorporate into your everyday life.
Make yourself something warm to drink, find somewhere comfortable, and give yourself a few minutes to just sit. And I mean actually sit. Without feeling like you need to be doing something else.
Take a deep breath in, and slowly breathe out. Feel the warmth of the cup in your hands. Take a sip and notice the sensation of the liquid as it moves down your throat. Allow yourself to gently settle into the space that you're in. And then check in with yourself.
How fast is your heart beating? Are your shoulders tense? Does your body feel relaxed, or are you still holding on to something from earlier in the day?
What's coming up in your mind?
I find that these little moments can be a really nice opportunity to let thoughts percolate a bit.
We're so used to thinking through things, analyzing them, figuring out what to do next. But sometimes we don't actually give ourselves the space to experience how those thoughts feel in our bodies.
You might be thinking about a conversation you had, an idea you're considering, or something that's been bothering you. Instead of immediately trying to work through it, just notice what happens in your body when you give that thought some space.
You don't have to solve anything.
You can just sit there, enjoy your drink, take a few deep breaths, and allow yourself to be.
🌿Giving Ourselves Permission to Be Still
There isn't one right way to practice stillness.
You can sit in meditation, lay down, take a walk, or enjoy a cup of tea. And depending on the day, one might feel better than another.
What matters is that we're creating these little opportunities to reconnect with ourselves.
And I think it's important to recognize that we don't always have to be doing something. We don't always have to be figuring something out, working toward something, or even trying to improve ourselves.
Sometimes we can just be.
If stillness is unfamiliar to you, start small. Set aside a few minutes and see how it feels. Notice what comes up in your mind, what happens in your body, and how comfortable you feel simply being present.
And if it's uncomfortable at first, that's okay, too. It's something you can practice and become more familiar with over time.
So whether it's five minutes of meditation, a quiet walk, or a few deep breaths with your morning coffee, give yourself permission to experience a little stillness this week.
See what comes up when you create the space to listen.
✨ Want to take this a little further?
Creating space to listen to ourselves is one thing. Learning to trust what comes up is another. And sometimes, even when we do slow down and pay attention, we're still left wondering what to do with what we're feeling. Is this my intuition? Is this fear? How do I know what's right for me?
That's part of what we explore in The Knowing, my self-paced course designed to help you deepen your discernment, reconnect with your inner knowing, and feel more confident making decisions that are aligned with who you are.
And because it's self-paced, you get to explore it on your own time, in a way that works for you.
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