Meditation and the Struggle of "Finding Quiet"

I should perhaps add a pre-amble to this post that what I'm about to explore here is likely more of a problem we see here in the USA than in many other parts of the world.

I'm talking about easy access to moments of quiet solitude.

We live in a world where it feels like everything is a whirlwind of color, noise and movement... and stillness is simply not valued as an attribute in daily life.

It's a bit odd, given how many seminars and workshops are offered to help people find "peace of mind"... and almost everywhere you turn, there are meditation and yoga retreats. Seems like a bit of a contradiction to me...

I will happily add mu name to the long list of people who have found meditation and seeking stillness as essential parts of my mental wellness program. But it's not always easy to "find stillness."

Stillness is not really valued in the USA. I figured this out in somewhat unusual ways, from traveling back and forth between Denmark and the US. The first place I notice it is at the airport. Copenhagen airport has lots of noise abatement and sound insulation barriers within the terminal buildings... something you rarely see at US airports.

Culturally, there's also more shouting between people who are a distance apart... rather than a tendency to be closer to the other person so you don't have to yell.

I'm not mentioning these things as a cultural criticism, merely pointing out the noticeable differences.

I have always tended to value silence and quiet spaces. It is something that has felt like a natural inclination since I was a child. I never did LOUD very well!

Sometimes I can't help but feel like we have forgotten about the value of peace and quiet as part of maintaining good mental health. There's always "noise and action" everywhere... but this non-stop cacophony doesn't really feel good, although it feeds our illusion of always being busy.

This ostensible "need" to always seem busy has generally felt out of step with my life energy and pace.

I value my quiet time, and even though it can be a struggle to find it, I will seek out my silent spaces for meditation... simply because I feel much better as a result!

I hope the world doesn't completely forget about the value of silence... as we seem to try to cram more and more "content" into our lives, with every passing year. Sometimes less really IS more!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Friday!

How about you? Do you value stillness and quiet meditation? Or do you prefer to have "noise and activity" around you? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2024.01.05 00:48 PST
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