Be still and let the brilliant ideas flow

We often hear people saying,
That the best of their ideas comes
while taking a shower,
while driving,
or even during their potty time!

Where do the best ideas really come from?

Now why is that so? Why not in that boardroom discussion where we are sitting to chalk out new plans and unfurl fresh ideas? Or why not when we decide and block some time off to come up with a billion-dollar idea?

The answer, however, is not as complicated. It’s just that our mind is already filled up with a thousand thoughts; it is somewhere between household errands, tea break, lunch hour, work that already needs our attention and closure, a call that we’ve just missed, and so much more.

An overloaded mind has no room for magic

How then will our mind say, ‘Here you go, take this idea that will transform your life’. And even if it does throw an idea, will it not get muddled up with those unwanted thoughts?

How to shift into the ‘new normal’ of stillness

How, then, do we reach a heightened sense of awareness that the answers just show up, the ideas just come up? Our 6th sense? It just starts working for us. How do we reach a space where this doesn’t just happen once in our lifetime but something that keeps happening more often? Something that becomes our ‘New Normal’.

The Still Water Wisdom from Mahatria

My Guru Mahatria puts it this way:
“How much ever pebbles you throw in turbulent water
Will it ever create ripples?
In still water,
Even a small pebble or a speck of dust will create ripples.”

That’s exactly how our minds work when our mind is filled with immense thoughts, the ideas may come and pass by without us even identifying it. The moment we feel calm and peaceful, we start listening to the higher force.

How often I must have looked up and said, “Use me, my Lord, use me for all that I can do right and good.” How often HE was answering me, but I was just not there. Just not ready to listen. God always wanted to utilize me, but I was too lost in those garbled thoughts.”

The cost of constant multitasking

However, I realized I am not even close to experiencing such moments in this fast-paced world. I constantly want to do something – scroll through social media or news in the washroom break or keep reading during my travel time. I felt I am multitasking and utilizing my time for the better, but deep down I know I am not doing justice to either.

From human doings to human beings

I finally related to this thought that we’ve started becoming ‘Human Doings’, but we were always meant to be ‘Human Beings’.

To simply be. To simply exist. To simply pause in between all the vagaries of life. To simply be still. To simply watch my thoughts. To simply watch my thoughts till the time I start identifying the pauses in between. To simply watch my thoughts subsiding and observe the pauses to increase. To start feeling that stillness I was always meant to feel.

The 30-Minute practice that changed everything

Here is this little activity that I started doing, and it’s doing wonders to me. I gave myself a minimum of 30 minutes on most of my days to simply be still. To simply watch my thoughts and not get carried away with it. How much ever urge I get to pick that book besides me to pen that idea or thought while being still – I avoid it. That urge to pick my cell phone to give attention to that ‘ting’ of WhatsApp notification, I avoid laying my eyes there. I simply let thoughts come and pass by just like that vehicle moving across the road. It’s like I want to be at a café, why would I even sit in that car? In those 30 minutes, if at all I feel like giving some focus point, I focus on my breathing.

The immediate benefits of stillness

It magically started doing wonders from the first day of practice. I felt more focused throughout the day, my productivity increased. I found myself observing those waves of negative emotions that show up, allowing it to subside. A big one – I did not feel like wasting my time or energy on anything unwanted. Why? I am more mindful and observant of my actions and so, I do not get carried away.

Stillness travels with you

Even while I am traveling on a train to my workplace, somehow, I saw myself drawn inward, getting this feeling of being by myself, watching my thoughts and breath. And just like that, stress seemed to vanish into nothingness, leaving me energized for the rest of the evening.

Purposeful whispers from the universe

I started getting more purposeful thoughts in those moments, need not be humongous but as small as finding this urge to drop a note or an inspiring video to an acquaintance. Only to receive a response from them that this is exactly what they needed to hear! It sounded insane at first and then I realized, in these moments of stillness, God can work through me. God always wanted to utilize me, but I was too lost in those garbled thoughts.

God has always been talking. Were you listening?

I mean, how often I must have looked up and said, “Use me my Lord, use me for all that I can do right and good.” How often HE was answering me, but I was just not there. Just not ready to listen.

That brilliant idea, the answers we are all seeking, they’re all lingering in this space waiting for us to experience through those gentle whispers.

Be Still: The Mantra

Be Still.
To seek.
Be Still.
To listen to the dance within.
Be Still.
To observe the dance outside.
Be Still.
To Intune yourself with the higher force.
Be Still.
For the higher force to connect with the world through you.

Also read by Jarna Khimani: