The Practice of Silence and Stillness 

How are you? Feeling overwhelmed? Are you frantic? I am completing my final semester of a master’s degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership. I am working through many issues with our kid’s mental health. So I feel a bit frantic.

I have been a parent for 30 years; no matter how organized I am, my to-do list is never done. I often think that if I work just a little harder, I will have moments of relative peace. But most of the time, these moments do not come. There will always be one more thing to do, one more problem to solve.

I am learning to pay attention when I get frantic. When I want to hustle or develop a better system to fix a problem. I am also learning to pay attention when I begin to blame myself and let the feeling of guilt color my view of myself. That is the moment when I should be still and listen. So instead of waiting for what may never come, an empty to-do list and no drama. I need to give my worries and striving to God. Remember that raising children can be messy, loud, frantic, and beautiful.

Practicing stillness and quiet is challenging for a busy special needs mom. But it is always worth it. Consider a small practice of sitting in silence for 5 minutes. You can do 5 minutes. Find a quiet place, set a timer, close your eyes, and breathe. I like to hold my hands open on my lap. Breathe and let the stillness calm and center you. Some days my mind is jumping around with all I need to do. But I keep trying. Have you tried the practice of silence and stillness? This practice helps me come to peace with how life unfolds around me.

I would love to hear from you, reply to this email and let’s continue the conversation!

Don’t forget to listen in to this month’s podcast episodes, we are talking about the importance of therapy.