Finding Growth in Quiet Moments: What 5 Minutes of Daily Silence Taught Me

Do you need accountability to get things done?  I do, that is why a couple of months ago, I challenged us to take 1-5 minutes a day for quiet time. Setting my alarm for 2:30 p.m. each day, I found that the simplicity of being still—whether through a quiet walk, a silent drive, or a moment of stillness—brought numerous insights.

Wayne Dyer once said, “Everything that's created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”

Thanks Melissa Mullin @melissamullinator from Unsplash for the reference photo

This stillness reveals more than just calm. By making space for quiet, I found room for important messages like “remember,” “listen,” “observe,” “slow down, “trust yourself”, “question your resistance”, and “you have the power.” These are messages from within.

What was so fascinating about all these messages is that, despite our brains’ higher sensitivity for what goes wrong —known as ‘negative bias’—they were all positive. Every single message I recorded over two months was uplifting.

It takes intention and dedication to train the brain to see the good, and QUIET turned out to be a great coach. So, now I’ll focus on turning QUIET louder.

On the daily basis, during moments of quiet reflection:

·          I remembered to put things on my reminders list, which freed up headspace. As a result, the client pitch got sent out at the right time.

·          I listened to my ideas, my body, my feelings, the birds, and to silence itself. They all had a lot to say. Naps happened and good art work happened, too.

·          I observed my reactions and the people around me, paying attention to what was happening. It made it easier to be present and to notice how different it felt to say yes to an invitation this time around.

·          I slowed down, and that’s significant because, by nature, I am quick to respond and react, which makes many things in life seem urgent. But, there are no art emergencies.

Another interesting observation was that 5 minutes of stillness seemed to multiply time and space (as in head space), or perhaps it expanded my capacities. Also, synchronicities have come as books, podcasts, and quotes, repeatedly emphasizing the advantages and importance of cultivating stillness.

Despite the distractions of summer and the TV often on to catch the Olympics, I am committed to expanding my quiet practice to observe and recognize what I need each day. My 2:30 p.m. alarm is set —a small commitment that makes a significant impact. I invite you to take a few minutes each day to listen to yourself, whether it's during a red light, the time it takes for pasta to boil, while you are knee-deep in a project, or while walking your dog. Let's continue to cultivate quiet moments.

I look forward to hearing about what a little bit of quiet does for you. Comment below or send me an email.