Where are the Answers?

It might be fun this week to talk about something we can go for instead of something to give up and go away from. Maybe here we would also find the secret to getting the best answers to our questions.

For several weeks I’ve been writing about ending the addiction to thinking.  And yet, we humans seem to believe that we must think long and hard when we’re in need of answers to our questions. But, here’s what I believe is the problem with expecting that our thinking is going to provide us the best answers – the thinking mind only has access to past knowledge and experiences. This is not the part of the mind from which inspiration comes and brings new creations.

I don’t know about you, but I will share with you that I often encounter situations and questions that are new to me – and I have no experience to draw from in my mind’s databank. Then, if I am telling myself I should have the answer, I find myself feeling stress and anxiety.

What if there was another way? I believe there is. When I happened upon these words spoken by St. John of the Cross — instantly the mind dropped its chatter.

“God’s first language is Silence. Everything else is a translation.”

Perhaps what we need is to practice becoming quiet enough to hear the Silence within. Maybe it is as simple as saying to the mind, “shut up and listen.” 

I like to call this practicing stillness. There is a calmness, a stillness where thoughts and words do not exist. Where God is it is quiet.

Sometimes practicing stillness is the simple act of getting up from your desk and walking into another room or outside for a few minutes. When I find myself struggling to find the right words to write – putting my body in motion seems to stop the mind and allows space for inspiration to arrive. It feels good when the right words just suddenly show up when least expected. I know you’ve had those moments, too — when you felt inspired — when it seemed the idea, the words, or thoughts came from a Source greater than the mind.

Stilling the mind is definitely the aim of a meditation practice, which is becoming more and more popular in the mainstream world. There are even meditation apps to download on your phone – if this interests you I have a couple on mine that I use, and I do recommend them. Insight Timer and Headspace.

But, for the moment let’s find our way of practicing stillness with something simple and familiar and easy. Little things like smelling a flower, gazing at fluffy white clouds in the sky, loving on your dog or cat, or listening to music that sweeps you away.

What does it for you? Do you realize that whatever it may be, it is also giving you pleasure and feelings of peace? Hmmm. Seems like we might be wanting to do a whole lot more of it!

1 Comment

  1. Shara Terry on March 14, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    This is wonderful Mardi ~ stillness of the mind does really make us stop and just be in the moment. Reading this makes me feel peace – it will be a keeper!

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