Finding Strength in Silence
Do you have a minute? No literally, do you have 60 seconds?
If you have 60 seconds, you have time to start developing a meditation practice.
The mere idea of sitting in the silence with your own thoughts to “meditate” can be incredibly intimidating. It can be a challenge, but one worth pursing if you are on the journey to mastery and excellence.
There is a myriad of benefits from using meditation on a regular basis. From elevated human performance to better emotion control, sitting in silence to find your inner strength is what can set you apart from the competition.
I love my sport (soccer) so much because the game has been a place for me to escape. It’s a place for me to be free and creative. Thinking back on my best performances, the moments I was playing with pure passion and joy were the moments I was in flow and in the present moment.
Mediation is a tool you can use to practice and train your focus and composure. There is a common connotation with the word meditation - you may imagine a monk sitting in crisscross on top of a mountain with candles lit and a symphony of Tibetan bowls singing his 4 hour long meditation.
I’m here to set the story straight - meditation is NOT always that scene. You do not need be on a monk’s path to start a mediation practice. All you need is one minute and a place to sit.
To find progress in any kind of work, consistency is an important component if not THE most important. When developing new practices, it’s pertinent to set your commitments to manageable and doable doses. I encourage you to take one minute to meditate and work to string together consecutive days of one minute meditations.
If you are still reading, you may be thinking, “Well, then what IS meditation if it’s not a zen-ful monk sitting on a summit?”
Meditation is this - it’s a focusing exercise. The meditator should starts by sitting comfortably (whether that’s in a chair, on a couch, on the floor). It is best to have your back supported and feet on the floor. The environment should be quiet, and even better if it is completely silent.
The meditator should focus on their anchor (the breath) and start to settle inward.
Meditation is the practice of using an anchor, noticing when thoughts wander away from the anchor, and then coming back to the present moment by bringing awareness back to the anchor.
The actual practice of meditation is noticing your thoughts have wandered and bringing the focus back to the inhale and exhale. When you meditate, you are training your ability to focus.
When one is able to work through thoughts, train their focus, and have the discipline to start a consistent practice is when one can truly experience growth and improvement.
So are you willing to find your strength in the silence?
Start with one minute of silent mediation and see how you feel in the coming days.
