Fight Your Instinct and Stay Still
While sitting through a meditation, I found it difficult to stay still. The meditation was focused on connecting us to the elements so that we could feel grounded. It was strange that I could not stay still because when I feel grounded, it is normally easy for me to remain still. However, in that moment, while baking in the sun, feeling the warm Florida breeze brush across the surface of my skin, I was unable to attain a sense of stillness.
I was feeling discomfort. I was fidgeting: pulling at my shirt, wiggling my fingers, that sort of thing. Frustration was building inside of me, why couldn’t I stay still?
It’s funny how feelings of discomfort cause us to want to move. We are barely able to maintain a state of discomfort. The moment something feels uncomfortable, we abandon all rationality and fall victim to movement, pulling away, therefore, falling victim to this discomfort. Although often acting in our favor, like when you pull your hand away from a hot surface because you instinctively know you will be harmed if you leave it there, giving in to this urge to move away from uncomfortable thoughts can be a bad thing. Unfortunately, because of this instinct, we are unable to feel a sensation so necessary to our growth, the sensation of stillness and reflection. Moving away from thoughts and feelings of discomfort stop you from experiencing stillness and it is with this sensation of stillness that we gain the ability to truly reflect on tensions we are attempting to work through, which leads to internal growth and strength.
Our instinct telling us to move from this place of discomfort is, therefore, inhibiting our ability to grow. By moving away during this time of discomfort, you are not allowing your thoughts to travel towards solutions to problems that may be causing tension throughout your life. It is important to remember that in times where things feel uncomfortable, sometimes it is best to stay still and breathe through your thoughts rather than flee at the first sign of tension. The act of staying still will allow you to deeply work through tension that has been building up in your mind and your body.
Remind yourself that the first instinct or solution is not always the best option, and it is crucial to give yourself the privilege of staying still, thinking through your tension, to bring out answers that will ultimately benefit your physical and mental stability.
