Seeking Silence

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” – Buddha

My mind is a very busy mind. It sometimes races and whirs.

And the world is a very noisy place.

So I seek ways to quiet my thoughts and savor silence:

• Nightly meditation before I turn out the lights. Picturing the color white, I center on its sereneness; washing all other colors away empties my mind.

• Reading happy stories; for me, lately, it’s historical romance.

• Reading something soothing before bedtime–for me, a chapter of Jane Austen’s Complete Novels; it has a permanent place on my nightstand. Reading her elegant prose from a bygone era frees my mind.

• Free Zen apps on my iPhone, specifically Practice Everywhere and Transform Your Life by Zen master, Cheri Huber. The former alerts me throughout the day to bring me back to the moment, with inspiring messages like “Be a human being, not a human doing” or “Kindness–the answer to every question” while the latter is a short daily lesson.

• Taking several walks every day, in all seasons, taking time to notice nature and breath fresh air.

• Reminders on my iPhone to both breathe and also to chew my food slowly and mindfully.

• Early morning yoga, to ease gently into my day.

• Handwritten correspondence; writing a letter longhand takes more time than firing off an email, allowing me more time to think of what I want to say and how to best say it.

How do you seek silence?

~Maria