A Quiet Mind in a Quiet Place

There is a good chance that your mind is in 20 different places right now, especially as the year draws to a close. It might be thinking of work obligations, family dynamics around the holidays, what you are going to make for dinner, when you last worked out, reminiscing of days gone by, or something in your future that you are worried will go wrong.

In an age of constant motion, exhilaration, and distraction, there is nothing more important than making time to slow down, sit still and pay attention.

The chaos of the mind feels normal to most of us, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for us. We could all benefit from taking time to relax, reset, reconnect to the present moment, and quiet the mind.

Voluntary simplicity is counter-intuitive when life seems to be pulling at us from all angles. But it is the perfect vaccine to treat dis-ease and anxiety.

“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.”

– Isaac Newton

Finding ways to quiet your mind on a regular basis does wonders for your mental well-being. Mindfulness reduces stress, lowers anxiety, increases energy levels, and can even improve your mood.

The Science Behind Silence

Having a quiet mind is only one piece of the puzzle to help fully relax. A study was conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information to observe how the brain reacts to a variety of music styles. During the study, in between each piece of music that was played for participants, there was a period of silence. The calming music didn’t have the greatest relaxing effect on the brain – the silence did.

Find Your Quiet Mind in a Quiet Place

If you really want to find a quiet place, both externally and internally, start with your surroundings. Where can your place of solitude be? Maybe it’s in your living room, early in the morning, before anyone else is awake. Perhaps it’s in your office, during the time when most of your co-workers are out at lunch. Incorporate times into your regular routine to be still, meditate, and watch your mind in this silent space.

Of course, it isn’t realistic to assume that we can easily access a place of complete silence on a regular basis. If you are looking for ways to quiet your mind regularly, in your typical environment, try out some of these practices:

•     Pay Attention to Your Breath: Our breath is one of our most powerful tools. You don’t need props or a meditation studio to access your quiet mind. Simply set aside a minute or so to pay attention to your breath. Find a comfortable seat, close your eyes if you’d like, and put your attention fully on your breathing. This will allow you to fully bring yourself to the present, and put a pause on thoughts that are pulling you to other places.
•     Do Guided Meditation with an App: If you can’t access complete silence, you can use a recorded meditation session to guide yourself towards a quiet mind. Apps like Calm or Headspace can help you relax, even when your surroundings are a bit more hectic.
•     Stand on One Leg: This might sound like a silly suggestion, but it can do wonders to redirect your focus to the present moment and quiet mind chatter. Stand up and balance on one leg. If that is easy for you, try doing it with your eyes closed or looking up. Try other ways to challenge your balance, like bending your standing leg and squatting toward the ground. The simple act of focusing on one challenging task will bring your focus inwards.

Try to embrace silence in your daily life, and find ways to quiet your mind. You’ll see wonderful improvements and likely find amazing solutions to complex situations.

Practice quieting your mind with our Monthly Intentions Program.

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