Why You Should Be Sitting in Silence 10 Minutes a Day.
All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone- Blaise Pascal.
In a world where we are constantly surrounded by distractions, it’s becoming more important than ever to focus on yourself. This can be difficult when you’re also trying so hard for your family and friends – but don’t lose hope! The key is finding time in the day that will leave them happy without feeling neglected or abandoned; 10 minutes every single day does wonders because there really isn’t anything better gift someone else than self-love (besides maybe another human being). And since silence has become such an uncommon commodity nowadays thanks to primarily social media platforms.
This article made me think of my own thoughts during 10 minutes sitting without any phone or distractions. I can totally relate to the author’s experiences!
People often ask me to recommend a single, easy thing that will help them improve their lives. I typically answer which reads as follows – ‘How about just sitting in silence for 10 minutes every day?’
There are many benefits to sitting in silence. It’s better than email, Facebook or Twitter for sure! Silence can help you achieve inner peace and clarity while building your confidence at work with just 10 minutes per day- no distractions allowed!”
Everyone has a lot on their plate. A full-time job, kids, spouse, and other responsibilities can make it challenging to find time for themselves. I know this too well, as my days are jam-packed with everything from work to the housework and the family chores. But what if you could take just 10 minutes of your day and sit in silence? What would you think about it? What is something you always wanted to do or try but never had enough time for? We may not be able to find time for everything, but we should at least have 10 minutes every day to give ourselves some peace so that our minds are refreshed before tackling another stressful task.
Do you need a few moments to yourself?
Do you often feel stressed and overwhelmed but don’t know how to get out of that state?
Taking time for silence may be the answer.
I’ve been practicing sitting in silence for about 10 minutes per day, and it has made a massive difference in my life. It gives me time to myself without feeling guilty or self-absorbed. If you’re interested, read on!
Principles
Some people might ask, “why to bother?” or “isn’t there something better you could be doing with your time?” Here’s my short answer:
No, and not better than this.
Here’s why: when I sit in silence, whether it be for 10 minutes or an hour, I connect to myself and experience peace of mind which is not possible through any other activity-yes, even meditation. For example, before writing this blog post, I sat outside for about an hour to go over all the material in my head to write something coherent for you lovely people. And while being out was very calming and enjoyable, there are two huge benefits I get from sitting in silence which is not available anywhere else: firstly, it helps me realize what is essential to me-namely family/friends/mental well-being, etc. –and it also, more importantly…
Self-Realization
I’ve realized that out of all the things I could want or desire, there is one thing I really, truly need: a strong sense of self. This sounds reasonably obvious-in fact, something I would have considered an excuse from others at some point in time –but when I sit in silence for even 10 minutes per day, it occurs to me on a profound level. For example, after writing this blog post and feeling excited about sharing my thoughts with you guys (and myself), I will ask myself, “what’s next?” And without fail, the answer is always some form of family/friends time. When going through trials and tribulations in my life, sitting quietly reminds me that just being me is enough for those I hold close. It also reminds me that many things can be done with my time on this planet but that the only thing that is truly essential and should never be given up under any circumstances is being true to myself.
Read : I spent 10 days using the popular mindfulness app Headspace — this is what it’s like
The Practice of Sitting in Silence
It’s easy! Just sit somewhere quiet, preferably in a chair or lying down flat, where you won’t be disturbed. Close your eyes if it helps you focus more-I personally prefer keeping them open because closing them makes it easier for me to fall asleep (but some days when I’m exhausted, it’s better to keep them closed) –and do nothing. Think about what you’re going through in life or think about nothing at all! If your mind is full of thoughts, acknowledge them and let them go before refocusing your attention on the present moment. And it’s OK if you fall asleep-in fact I recommend it! I like to think that every night before I go to sleep, my internal dialogue says, “see you tomorrow morning!” (and then I dream about moths)
This might sound ridiculous, but the first few times I tried doing this was hard. The first time it took me about 40 minutes of sitting still with my eyes closed to realize what was going on in life, which was essential to me etc. But don’t give up! Eventually, once you get past this initial phase, it’ll be easy to sit down for however long you want and enjoy the peace.
How does this work?
First of all, you must find a quiet place where no one can disturb or distract you from focusing on yourself and what is going on within your mind. You might need to schedule this time during lunch break at work or before bed if those are the only times they will not interrupt your focus.
Second, after finding an appropriate place to meditate, set a timer for 10 minutes and make sure it is loud enough so that even if someone were talking next to you, you could still hear it.
Third, set everything aside so that you are not being distracted by the television or the computer.
Finally, sit up straight and try to relax your body for a few minutes before seriously starting to focus your thoughts on yourself.
Once you’ve begun this meditation practice, I find that just 10-15 minutes can have an incredible impact. You will notice that even during those first few days, there is a dramatic improvement in clarity of thought and concentration on what you are doing at the time. This increased focus will carry over into everything else throughout your day.
You might be thinking about how much fun this sounds…not! Trust me, though, once you get started with this practice, even for 5 minutes or so every day, you will notice a difference, and it is surprising how much better we can feel when we take the time to focus on ourselves and to do something healthy like meditation.
I’ve been doing this for six months so far without fail, however if you are a full-time student or so if you have a job or something, I recommend trying it at night before you go to sleep so you can take advantage of your well-deserved rest… and forget all those thoughts about the next day: let them go!
Read : Tony Robbins shares the 10-minute morning routine that sets him up for success
Sitting in silence for just 10 minutes a day can have some surprising benefits. If you’re not sure if this is something that’s worth trying, here are four of the most common reasons people try it out.
Do you find yourself feeling more present? More mindful? Less stressed? Does sitting in silence help keep your worries at bay or let them go altogether?
We know how difficult small changes like these can be to implement but they can also reap big rewards so don’t give up before giving mindfulness a shot!