TIPs on Sitting Quietly
Sitting Quietly (SQ) is the experience of being inwardly focused…on your thoughts, feelings, or intent. It really can be as simple as finding a quiet place, sitting comfortably, closing your eyes and just “be in your head.” But SQ can also be a means, even a practice, of self-care…where you can relax, “reset,” or redirect your focus and attention to more positive and productive intent.
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Some “tips” in sitting quietly…
1. When it comes to sitting quietly, there is potentially a lot to learn and even more to gain – so try not to get or feel overwhelmed; because both the learning how and the benefit derived from SQ are testament to the truth of the adage: “Success is in the journey itself.”
2. There is no “wrong way” in sitting quietly. If you need to feed your self-judgment, then the only “failure” you need grapple with in SQ is…not.
3. One thinks better when not too emotionally “distracted” – like when stressed, upset, worried, or struggling with darker, more negative feelings like anger, fear, frustration, or resentment. Of course, one good and common reason to engage in sitting quietly is just that – to confront, manage, or somehow deal with such feelings. Nevertheless, it usually helps to start a sitting by (at least) trying to relax, or “de-stress.” And there are many breathing “exercises” and even “ways” to calm and relax oneself…some found here.
4. What comes with practice is learning when, and why, and how, and for how long a sitting should be. In other words, don’t get hung up on or start “guilting yourself” with any preconceived expectations or measures about doing it “right,” doing it enough, or long enough. If your conditioning has been that of a tendency to self-judge, consider “channeling it” into a more constructive evaluation or critique of what you’ve experienced, and thus what might make it better. (Maybe in your next sitting…)
