Sitting In Silence Day 21

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Piano.jpg

 

Here are some quotes by Howard Thurman that can be something you can contemplate during your sessions of silence.  They can also be thoughts you reflect upon as you take moments for quiet throughout your day. 

 

Listen to the long stillness: New life is stirring New dreams are on the wing New hopes are being readied: Humankind is fashioning a new heart Humankind is forging a new mind God is at work. This is the season of Promise

 

In whatever sense this year is a new year for you, may the moment find you eager and unafraid, ready to take it by the hand with joy and gratitude.

 

Do not be silent; there is no limit to the power that may be released through you.

 

The movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and women often calls them to act against the spirit of their times or causes them to anticipate a spirit which is yet in the making. In a moment of dedication they are given wisdom and courage to dare a deed that challenges and to kindle a hope that inspires.

 

There is a quiet courage that comes from an inward spring of confidence in the meaning and significance of life. Such courage is an underground river, flowing far beneath the shifting events of one’s experience, keeping alive a thousand little springs of action.

 

The radical tension between good and evil, as man sees it and feels it, does not have the last word about the meaning of life and the nature of existence. There is a spirit in man and in the world working always against the thing that destroys and lays waste.

 

Prayer is a form of communication between God and man and man and God….I am always impressed by the fact that it is recorded that the only thing that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to do was to pray.

 

 Keep up with your regular sessions of silence.  Let me know if you have questions.  Please share any comments or insights you have. 

Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 20

https://pixabay.com/photos/resting-old-man-human-bench-50442/

 

There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls

~Howard Thurman

 

Yesterday I posted a quote by Howard Thurman.  In my readings, I found more of the quote.  I think the portion that was missing in yesterday’s quote is a very important part of it. 

This quote is underscoring how important it is to find your center and live from that center.  This world can be crazymaking and if you don’t operate from a solid center within yourself then you are vulnerable to all sorts of fear, anxiety, and confusion.  This is why it’s so vitally important to establish some sort of practice whether you call it prayer, contemplation, sitting in silence, or something else. 

Your practice doesn’t have to be contemplative.  It can involve movement such as walking, yoga, or engaging in your favorite hobby.  As long as it helps you step away from the rush and hubbub and noise of the world and gives you the opportunity to breathe and check in with yourself. 

Regularly checking in with yourself is all you need to do, really.  When you do this, you are better able to stay true to your guiding principles and values.  You’re less likely to be thrown into a tizzy by what’s going on outside of you.  You’ll be able to think calmer and clearer when presented with challenges and difficulties.

Keep up the practice you have established.  Try new techniques as well so that you further customize your practice. 

Let me know if you have questions.  Also, please share any insights you have. 

Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 19

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HEARTWIN_WIN.png

 

There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have.

~Howard Thurman

 

To me, this quote of Howard Thurman’s summarizes the benefits of sitting in silence.  As we talked about earlier this month of sitting in silence, we’re doing this so we can once again tune into our Inner Knowing, the Still Small Voice, our Inner Wisdom, the urgings of our heart and whispering of our soul.

Keep this practice that you started this month.  You’ll be very glad you did.

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

 

 

Sitting In Silence Day 18

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/folk-art-doodle-houses-village-5991210/

 

Here is something I’ve been contemplating during my sitting in silence sessions:

You know you live in a small town when you accidentally left your front door unlocked for a week and absolutely nothing happened—even during the day when you were at work and even during the night while you slept.

Wow.

 

I’m very grateful that regardless of what the news outlets tell us, our world is still a safe place.

 

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

 

Sitting In Silence Day 17

https://pixabay.com/en/tulips-night-flower-floral-flower-1059928/

 

When you aren’t sure what to focus on during your sitting in silence sessions, try this:

 

All is well and getting better.  Something better is up ahead.

 

 

As you gently repeat that, observe what thoughts and feelings come up.  Also, notice where in your body you feel them.  Just gently notice.  That’s all.

All is well.

Things are getting better.

Something better is up ahead.

Please share this post with your friends and family.  Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 16

 

 

If you don’t know what to sit with in your sessions, try being grateful that Something Better is up ahead.

You don’t have to know what that Something Better will be or how it will come about.  All you need to do right now is to sit in silence with the statement “Thank you for the Something Better that’s up ahead.”

Please share this post with your friends and family.  Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 15

https://pixabay.com/photos/tea-lights-candles-candlelight-3612508/

When you sit in silence, it’s common to have issues that are bothering you come up.  For instance the quietness reveals you are holding unresolved grief.  Unresolved grief is actually quite common so don’t think there is something wrong with you if you discover this.

Instead of moving away from grief  as you may have in the past, use your sitting in silence time to sit with it.  Ask yourself gentle questions such as

• Tell me about this, tell me the whole story;
• What can I do to help?
• How can I help the healing?

Sit quietly and listen tenderly, meaning absolutely no judgement.  And no telling yourself how you’ll fix it!  Instead, let the grief tell you how to help.  Most likely at first it will want you to just sit with loving kindness and let it unburden itself to you.  This may take several sessions of sitting in silence.  And it may come in cycles, meaning that you may have several sessions of sitting with the unresolved grief and then a number of sessions when you don’t hear from it in a while.  It’s all perfectly fine.  No worries!

Please know that all types of grief are valid.  You may feel silly to be grieving the loss of a favorite pen, as an example.  Don’t dismiss this grief!  It’s sticking with you because it has something to tell you!  What it has to say can deepen and enrich your life if you take the time to listen and understand.

The key is to listen gently and tenderly as well as offering to help in an attitude of loving kindness.

It’sthrough this sitting in silence work that you discover Something Better is Up Ahead!

What are your thoughts about sitting with and listening to your unresolved grief?  Share your comments below.  Thank you!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 14

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sialia_sialis

 

 

 

This is what I’m sitting in silence with today:

This too shall pass;

Something better is up ahead.

What are you sitting with in silence?  Please share in the comments below.  Thank you.

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Sitting In Silence Day 13

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mr_Pipo_Think_03.svg

 

When you sit in silence today, gently contemplate this question:

Who am I?

Take a moment to answer that question. 

There is no wrong or right answer—only the answer you have right now.  Keep asking yourself this question during your days—don’t ask just once, keep asking!  You’ll be amazed at the answers that come to you and how your life shifts because of the answers you get.

Please share your thoughts and observations in the comments below.  Please remember to share these posts with your friends and loved ones.  Thank you!

Something Better is Up Ahead!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

 

Sitting In Silence Day 12

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jamaica_road_sign_R34-2.svg

 

 

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~Howard Thurman

 

 

 

When you sit in silence today, gently keep turning your thoughts to the questions:

• What do I love to do?
• What makes me come alive?

Then sit quietly and pay attention to the thoughts that pop up.  In these ideas and urgings to action you will discover your Purpose.

Don’t worry if you have trouble doing this or if you don’t hear or sense anything.  Gently keep at it each day and you WILL be rewarded.

Something Better is Up Ahead!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren