Once again it’s time for the A-Z blog hop. This week’s letter is S. There are a ton of words that begin with the letter S, but the most important one to me is “stillness”. In a four year struggle over love, loss, and letting go, being still inside is the most valuable lesson I have ever learned to battle fear and anxiety. I remember my first experience with stillness. I was sitting home, alone and the inner anxiety was so bad I couldn’t stop crying, thinking or shaking. When I get in these situations, I pray. That day I sat very still in the recliner. I covered myself with a blanket. I placed my hands at my sides, closed my eyes and prayed, “Dear lord, just make me a vehicle for your spirit.” That one simple prayer released me from the prison of fear and anxiety. Just the thought that I didn’t have to DO anything but sit there and be still and let The Lord take over everything, gave me peace as I had never, ever known it.
Today, four years later, that same peace still lives inside me. It takes reminding and cultivation, but it is still there. The way I keep my “stillness” intact is by doing thirty minute meditations at least three to four times a week. Silent Journey is the meditation series I use. Just yesterday I was reminded “that no matter how noisy and confusing the outside world is, inside I am still.” That one thought relaxed every muscle in my body. I love that this series doesn’t choose your God or Higher Power for you. For me, within ten minutes the voice and music put me in an intimate audience with my lord. He and I sit in quiet communion, face to face, almost like having a cup do coffee across the table from a close friend. Here my mind lays out my fears and worries and he very gently and kindly eases them. That feeling that I don’t have to do anything on this earth except be a vehicle for his spirit that I experienced that day four years ago, settles in around me again.
Whether you have a higher power or not, are a praying Christian, a devout Catholic, or are just wallowing around all by yourself looking for peace and calm, get the free mediation from Silent Journey and use it everyday for a week. I saw such a huge change in the way I feel everyday, I purchased the series and put them on my phone so I can use them anywhere. This past week I missed about four days in a row and saw a definite decline in how I felt. I missed the prayer time with my lord and had a touch of anxiety upon awakening that I haven’t felt in awhile now. That scared me. I don’t want to go back to waking up like that anymore. I quickly resumed my regular meditation practice and all is good again.
This world can seep into our soul and wear us down. We need a place to go in our mind where we can set the baggage down for a bit. If you never met God, here is a great place to meet Him on your own terms, without fear. Get the free session, sit in a chair all warm and comfortable, turn it on and see where it takes you. If any of you try this, I would be interested in hearing about your experience.
And so, as another day goes by, the letter S leads me to stillness, and…I have written.
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