It’s been a while since we talked about sitting in silence. I hope you’ve been keeping up with your practice. I find it to be so worthwhile to do, especially first thing in the morning, and I want that for you, too.
An added bonus is sometimes when my day isn’t going well, I’ll find a quiet place and sit for a few moments. It helps me regain my footing and remember that taking things step-by-step and doing my best at every moment will pay off.
I found the poem below and think it’s a good a reminder of a few of the benefits of sitting in silence:
ONLY BE STILL
‘Only be still, and in the silence grow,’
If thou art seeking what the gods bestow.
This is the simple, safe, and certain way
That leads to knowledge for which all men pray
Of higher laws to govern things below.
But in our restless discontent we go
With noisy importuning day on day—
Drowning the inner voice that strives to say
‘Only be still, and in the silence grow.’
We doubt, we cavil, and we talk of woe—
We delve in books, and waste our forces so;
We cling to creeds that were not meant to stay,
And close our ears to Truth’s immortal lay.
Oh wouldst thou see, and understand, and know?
‘Only be still, and in the silence grow.’
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
It only takes a moment for the silence to work its wonders, although I recommend that you spend 15 – 20 minutes in silence.
Give it a try and let me know what you experience. Thanks!
I came across these two sweet little poems that talk about the small gestures to give to others. I think you’ll enjoy them, too, with the added bonus that they’re a great reminder that it’s the small things that oftentimes matter the most.
They might not need me—yet they might,
I’ll let my heart be just in sight.
A smile so small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity.
~Emily Dickinson
It was only a glad “Good morning!”
As she passed along the way,
But it spread the morning glory
Over the livelong day.
The number one reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors. ~Napoleon Hill
You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.~Margaret Thatcher
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all. ~Dale Carnegie
Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.~Francis Chan
Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. ~Dale Carnegie
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.~Vidal Sassoon
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. ~Pablo Picasso
All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. ~Michael John Bobak
Your problem isn’t the problem. Your reaction is the problem. ~Anonymous
When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you. ~Lolly Daskal
If you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission. ~Anonymous
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. ~Anonymous
Which quote resonated with you? Keep it handy throughout your day and refer to it frequently. Let it give you the boost you need!
Life can be scary, especially when we let our imaginations go and conjure all sorts of disasters waiting to befall us. Or, our imaginations can be more petrifying by not dishing up anything specific but yet terrorizing us with the Nebulous Unknown.
I hope one or all of these selections can help you feel grounded and safe when you’re in the throes of fear and anxiety:
The Cradle Song composed by Brahms
Ave Maria composed by Franz Schubert
Ave Maria composed by Bach/Gounod
Canon in D Major composed by Pachelbel
Clair de Lune composed by Debussey
Let it Be composed and sung by The Beatles
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star sung by Jewel
Over the Rainbow as sung by Judy Garland
Angel Standing By as sung by Jewel
If you have favorite songs that help you feel calm and safe, please share in the comments below. Thanks!
The power of anger can feel almost uncontrollable, and that can be very scary. As a result, oftentimes we feel we need to “stuff” our angry feelings because we want to scream, shout, and throw a fit…but we know that won’t solve anything. But yet, what do we do with all that energy?
One of the best ways to release the steam that builds up when we’re angry is through music and movement. Here is a short playlist to help you do that.
Even though some of these songs are about love gone wrong, feel free to substitute words and names so that the song is customized to you and your situation.
Remember to use the energy to help you take the next step!
Enjoy this playlist!
These Boots Are Made for Walking sung by Nancy Sinatra
Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair sung by Mitzi Gaynor
Do you have a playlist, one that’s specifically geared to fueling your enthusiasm for your goals and dreams? If not, it can be just what you need to help you keep taking steps on your path.
Here are 24 NEW suggestions (scroll down for the 24 songs in the original post):
Feel free to add others that are your favorites. Sometimes as I sing and dance along with these songs, I tweak the lyrics to make them more powerfully specific to me. Feel free to do the same!
Your homework today is to make a playlist for yourself, one that’s filled with songs that motivate you toward your goals and dreams. If you already have one, then update it (Please remember to respect the hard work of the artists and download songs from reputable services). Have fun with this!
Play these songs first thing in the morning to get yourself charged up for a great day and to catapult you into taking the next step toward your dreams. Also, play the list throughout the day to keep you going.
You can do it!
Post in the comments section the songs that are your favorites for feeling good and motivating yourself.
I’ve gotten feedback from several of you, my Friends and Pep Pals, who wanted to know specifics of what I listen to in each category of the playlist I included in yesterday’s post. While there are many great choices on YouTube–my go-to music streaming source–these are the “albums” I listen to at this time. Next week, next month, I might list different selections, but right now this is it:
Recordings of Nature Sounds:
Johnnie Lawson’s videos
