Stillness in the spiritual community comes from a place of “non-doing”.
It is idealized in sitting and attempting to ‘quiet the mind’.
I would concur. There is a variation of stillness that comes from quiet contemplation.
Yet an under-appreciated form of stillness comes from doing; doing what you love.
When you are doing what you love, there is absolute stillness.
A quieting of sorts or shall I say more of a contented mind.
When I write, I am still. I am doing. I am relaxed. I am peacefully working it out.
When I deadlift, I am relaxed, and pulsing, and doing and still all at the same time.
Stillness can arise when participating in what you love.
It’s a form of self-expression, beyond sitting on the yoga cushion, that can provoke a still mind.
The two forms of stillness.
There is a time to be yourself into stillness. (A top-down approach to stillness)
There is a time to do yourself into stillness. (A bottom-up approach to stillness)
Whatever your path, just know that both are available, and both are necessary to express an adaptable, optimal human being.
If you can only still your mind when you sit, you’ve got a deficit, and you’re probably identified with ‘being spiritual’, not emphasizing doing what you love.
If you can only still your mind when you are doing, you’ve got a different deficit and you’re probably identified with ‘productivity’ and devalue just sitting and being.
Do both. Be nimble.
See you next week!
Dr. Steve
