Contemplation #5
“All of man’s problem’s could be solved if he could just learn to sit alone in a room with himself for an hour.” – Pascal (1623-1662)
Over three and a half centuries ago, Pascal, the famous French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher recognized and wrote about the importance, yet difficulty, of learning to quiet the mind. Today, in our fast paced society, with the need for instant gratification and immediate reward, it is perhaps more necessary than ever to learn how to quiet the mind. Here are five critical reasons why everyone should develop and practice this skill everyday.
1. Stress reduction.
Nothing reduces stress more than the quieting of the mind. When the mind is quiet, the stress response is shut off in the body and calmness and relaxation are amplified. If you want to lower your stress, strengthen your immune system, and build resistance to illness and stress related diseases, then practice the quieting of your mind for 5 minutes twice everyday.
2. Improve concentration and mental clarity.
Regular practice in slowing and quieting the thinking mind leads to enhanced concentration, improved critical thinking, and effective problem-solving. This is why Lauren, in her skills-based counseling, teaches quieting of the mind strategies to all of her ADHD children and their parents.
3. Enhanced creativity.
Creativity flows from the heart to the mind. Too much thinking stifles creativity. The most creative individuals know how to shut off the thinking mind, so deeper creative energies are free to flow.
4. Freedom from unhealthy habits and self-destructive patterns.
Our thinking mind produces over 60,000 thoughts a day and 85% of them are the same thoughts we had yesterday! Feelings and behavior are driven off of thought. This means well over 80% of what we feel and do everyday is preprogrammed by habitual ways of thinking. Without the ability to quiet the mind and step outside the thinking mind, you are a prisoner to your habits and patterns. By learning to quiet the mind, you place yourself back in control; your habits and patterns serve you, rather than you being a slave to them. Your freedom of choice is restored.
5. More inner peace.
Inner peace is an attribute in you, but you cannot experience it while your thinking mind is engaged. Learning to quiet the mind leads naturally to greater, more profound levels of inner peace.
So, if you’re convinced that learning to quiet the mind is worth the investment of 10 minutes per day, I invite you to download the 5 minute audio practice session offered here and practice quieting your mind.
Click on the Quieting the Mind tab below to download your practice session:
“Man was meant to sit quietly and discover his truth within.” – Lao Tzu
Having read this I believed it was rather enlightening.
I appreciate you spending some time and effort to
put this short article together. I once again find myself spending a
lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still
worth it!
Glad you found it enlightening-thanks for the comment!
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Awesome answer
the more quiet you become the more you can hear.the true tressure a man can possess is he gift of a qiet mind.
You are so right on!!