Why We Sit

As I sat down to write you the newsletter this morning, I plugged in all of my upcoming announcements and events… the easy stuff, and then my fingers fell still on my keyboard… I wasn't sure what to share in the opening article. I usually like to give you a little slice of my practice… a teaching I'm working with, or what I'm inspired by lately. But today I found myself with… not a whole lot to say. So I decided to take a break and sit instead. I went to my studio, grabbed my practice shawl and my mala, and sat down on my block.

Once the typical beginning chatter started to settle, and my mind became quiet, I had an idea - an answer to a question I had been asking myself popped up. Though I welcomed this revelation, I then faced the enticing prospect of letting it hijack my meditation. I wanted to think more about the details of this inspiration. It was so enticing to chew on it, and this is exactly the place to work with in practice.

Instead I came back to feeling my body breathing and my soft gaze, which I had to do that more than once, believe me. But as much as I felt a pull to mull over this inspired, exciting idea, I knew that the whole reason it surfaced in the first place was because of stillness. This is why meditation practice is ideal for creative types. Creativity is born out of this stillness. If we never give our minds a break from all the monkey business of planning, ruminating, worrying, making lists, telling ourselves outdated stories about who we are and who we aren't, we don't have the opportunity for anything fresh and new to arise. There's no space for it.

So, the next time you find yourself stuck or uninspired, instead of walking in circles and beating yourself up for it, or getting consumed by social media, go and sit in front of an empty wall, steady your gaze and feel your body breathing. If there are interesting or seductive thoughts or ideas that surface, make a momentary note of them, and then come back to your breath.