This week we were challenged to devote a full three days to silence! Wow, that is a challenge! This means no phone, text, computer, TV, radio and so on. So, being a keener student, I looked at my calendar. There is no way to fit in one day, let alone 3 in the near future. Yes, I know that is ego talking, but I have commitments!
But I did see an opening on Thursday morning. So I blocked off about 3 hours before I had to leave for work at noon. My husband was at work, so all was quiet in the house. Here’s what I did:
First, I turned off all the notification alarms that go to my watch (I am done with those anyway, just annoying, seldom anything important – just other people’s urgency, not mine). Then I went for a walk – no headphones, no music or spoken word in my ears. So I got to listen to nature (and cars). Birds singing, the crunch of snow under my boots, the sounds of the city. And I didn’t think of anything in particular, it was lovely.
After coming home I showered and fixed a snack (silently), then sat down for an extended sit (about 2 hours). Now, I am faithful to the 15 minute sit every morning, I love it, and sometimes I extend that up to an extra 15 minutes – but TWO HOURS?!?! I don’t know the last time I sat for 2 hours without something to do. It was interesting – partly wonderful, partly boring, partly impatient, partly enlightening.
Thursday is the day to read the Press Release and visit with a friend in my mind. So that’s what I did (silently of course). This was the best, most realistic visit with my friend that I have had yet. At one point, after I told my friend how I was so happy to have achieved all these wonderful goals – she reached over the table, held my hands and said “Honey, you need some new goals!” It was such a real moment, something that she would for sure say but I did not see coming! So, note to self – as I achieve my goals, make sure I set some new ones.
And for the rest of the time, I just sat, relaxed, tried to keep my monkey mind away and kept doing my “mental housecleaning” – no more epiphanies, but it was a good experience. Then I had to get ready for work.
I do hope to make a longer silent retreat at some point, as I can see that it would become progressively more powerful as time goes on. Perhaps I can fit in at least one more short session soon, and a longer one later on.
In other news, we have a new chapter in “The Greatest Salesman.” It seems we have cycled back to the Mental Diet. That is a good thing, as I find I do not focus on that quite as well as I was doing.
Today I will be master of my emotions…
Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts…
I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny. Og Mandino
And Lesson 22 of the Master Key is right in line:
22.2 Let us remember that every thought produces an impression on the mind; every impression is a seed which will sink into the subconscious and form a tendency; the tendency will be to attract other similar thoughts and before we know it we shall have a crop which must be harvested. Charles Haanel
And one bit of humour – if you are a parent, you will probably understand this.
Love to you all!
So the golden child then by corollary is never silent?
Arlene thanks for the laugh! LOL I am posting to Facebook for you. See you next week!
Arlene, I absolutely love your description. LOL at the fact that silence when kids are around is suspicious!! Thanks for sharing. I love the fact that anything and all we do counts, even if we can’t do it all!
Way to go and make your “silence” happen! I love the quote at the end lol! Haha