The Hidden Power of Stillness (Beyond the Noises and Busyness)

In our world today that glorifies busyness and productivity, busyness is often worn as a badge of honor and productivity is relentlessly pursued.? ? ? Every corner, we turned we can hear words like “where has the time gone to”,? “I have so much more to do”,? “I am constantly juggling”, “I need to better prioritise”,? and so on.?

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We live in a culture that equates constant activity with success, leaving little room to appreciate the value of quietness where it is so easily cast aside.? ?Finding moments of quietness can seem like a luxury. Holiday; a time to relax, away from the noise and busyness has also become a time packed with activities.? ?It is no surprise most need a holiday after their much-planned holiday.?

With constant notifications, endless to-do lists, and a never-ending stream of information bombarding us from all sides, it can be challenging to carve out time for quiet reflection.?

Yet, taking the time to step back from the chaos of daily life and simply be present in the moment is not just a luxury—it's a necessity. In the quiet, we find a refuge from the noise that constantly surrounds us, allowing our minds to rest and our bodies to unwind. This intentional pause from the frenzy helps to reduce the stress, anxiety, and overwhelm that can accumulate from our never-ending to-do lists.?

Quietness invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with ourselves on a much deeper level. It creates space for reflection and introspection, giving us the clarity to see what truly matters. In these moments of stillness, we can hear the whispers of our own thoughts and feelings, often drowned out by the din of daily life.?

Moreover, quietness provides a much-needed break from the constant stimulation of modern life. With our senses bombarded by notifications, media, and the demands of our surroundings, the mind craves moments of peace to recharge. By embracing quietness, we nurture our mental well-being, fostering a sense of calm that enhances our overall quality of life.?

Profound benefits of stillness, quietness or mindfulness some may call it!? ?

BUT!!!?

A bumble busy bee like me, quietness or stillness as we called it has been a foreign concept to me all my life.? ?I am a super energetic little bud, sitting still even for a minute is a big challenge.? I like to be on the move all the time, doing something simultaneously, keeping busy is my motto!?

Since i am so good with busyness, naturally I became super good with multi-taskings too.? ? So much so that I can’t imagine doing nothing and pride myself as being efficient!? ?Others would even comment on my super ability – the ability of keeping up with so many things yet having the energy!?

When time is never enough, when there are simply too many things to do at work or at home.? ?I need to maximise my time.?

Doing nothing is a luxury that I would never contemplate!?

I don’t remember when it happened, how it happened.? It happened...?

Maybe it is the long-term habits of relentless doing, maybe it’s the gradual increase of my anxiety level, manifesting in my digestive system, maybe it’s my son sudden departure – I was literally forced to take a pause, force to take a breather,? force to slow down to give myself a moment...?

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A moment that belongs only to me, to my thoughts, to me and Nathaniel....?

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Do you know what that moment is like??

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In one of my recent workshop about navigating the Balance in our life,? one participant noted that despite knowing it is important to have self-care but the guilt of taking time off is immense hence the cycle of doing is inevitable.?

“The trouble with rat race is even if you win, you’re still a rat”. Lily Tomlin?

Not until we are able to step out of the race, we won’t be able to see ourselves fully.? ?Henceforth, whether we win or lose, we are still in the race and we are still a rat!?

Until we are able to take that breather.? We can then say it; it is ok to do nothing?

That is when I realised there is time for busyness, there is also time for stillness.? ? I love being with people, I love to organise events, I love to host, to entertain, yet I found I gradually found a quiet side of me – the creativity side, the expressive side through writing, the quiet side where I just listen deeply to the other person.?

“Whatever project you undertake, whether personal or professional, spiritual or spiritual, noble or mundane, if you do not begin from a mindful state, a state that comes from your being, you are heading for disappointment and failure.”? Quiet mind, by David Kundtz?

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The world is always telling us to keep busy, but how many of us truly know what we are busy about, why are we kept busy all the time?? ? Is the doing in alignment to who we are.? As per Adam Grant, know your WHY.?

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If we are not mindfulness of our time,? we tend to get sucked into the busyness that is anything that is more urgent regardless of their importance.? ? And the effect is even more prominent in people who describe themselves as “busy”?

Being busy is not the same as being productive.? ?Many of us could spend hours putting out fires and, at the?end of the day,?we find that we are no closer to reaching our?goals.?

When we are to cultivate our window of quietness, we learnt to quieten our noisy mind and thus able to put the importance tasks to work.? As per the saying? when we take one step back so that we can take 2 steps forward?

SO here are some science ways to find your quietness: MIP?

1. Be Mindfulness?
2. Be Intention?
3. Give yourself Permission?

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Mindfulness helps you increased awareness of your mind, body, and surroundings, which can have many benefits, like reducing stress.?You don't have to do meditation to gain the benefits of mindfulness.?

When you are able to increase the awareness,? you will start to be able to take more control of your busyness vs your quietness?

Be Intentional – like the Eisenhower matrix where we covered in last month blog,? when we are not intentional, we are simply lead by what is right in front of us ie the urgent tasks?

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When we give ourselves the permission to be still, to be quiet, to do nothing.? ?There is no longer a need for any adversity to justify our not doing!?

Have a go!?

Love to hear of your development, attempt OR join me at my 15mins mindfulness practice on Sunday to experience a guided mindfulness time, away from that never-ending busyness.