It was in 9th grade that I began practicing meditation. Anxious and curious, I sat quietly on my bed in a criss-cross position and closed my eyes (because that’s what YouTube told me to do). While sitting, I continued to take the instructors advice and envisioned a green pasture filled with roses and baby’s breath as I inhaled and exhaled deeply. After about 15 minutes of doing so I realized that it was actually working. I wasn’t anxious anymore.
Practicing meditation and stillness has become a common practice for me now and it is one that has changed my life for the better. Practicing stillness will be a lifelong practice for me because society tells us that busyness and stress should be the norm and that overextending ourselves is something to brag to the masses when that is not the case.
It is during meditation that I am able to practice stillness. You can practice stillness anywhere that grants you quietness and the ability to let go of all stimulation for as long as it takes to rest your mind. Making the conscious decision to practice stillness allows your mind to slow down and remain in the present moment, increase your self-awareness, soothe your body, and ease your spirit. Whirling thoughts may arise while you’re meditating, but pay attention to where your mind wanders. You may find it difficult to stay focused in the beginning, but doing so will grant you all benefits aforementioned and the peace of mind that you need.
Hopefully, we can get to a place where stillness, as a practice, is considered a social norm. Until then, I encourage all of you to take time out of your busy schedules and sit with yourself. Unpack all of your suppressed emotions, worries, and random thoughts until your mind is free of roaming and worry. You deserve a life of ease and I am thankful to have found stillness within myself through such a sacred practice.