Clear your mind with the rush of birds through leaves and the scent of running water. Shadows dancing in the light. Lean into the sensation. By the stream, the world is alive and soft.
What is the opposite of a clear mind? Restlessness. Bustle. Turmoil.
Desperately hungry for social media and glued to our phones, modern Western culture is bred on restlessness Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & hundreds of other apps promote searching, posting and striving for experiences, images and lifestyles. There’s no end.
We find our fingers scrolling more, flicking through stories of friends we don’t know, searching for…? Our minds are muddled from scrolling, from living chaotically, from endless pursuits.
Perhaps what we need most is to clear our minds by returning to stillness.
Here are 5 (unconventional and fun) suggestions to clear your mind…
Breathe, walk, dance, pray.
Sometimes all we need is to get out of our heads, resisting the thing that’s taking away clarity of mind. Often, a muddled mind comes with having too much on our plates. Consider saying no to a few items on your to-do list, to committing to less, or to stepping back from your heavy workload and asking, what is essential and where am I simply trying to people-please?
Once you’ve pushed aside the muddled mind, breathe deeply and feel your shoulders relax. Pray and ask God for His wisdom and direction. Put on a favourite song and dance like you mean it.
Get Comfortable with Waiting
Do you find yourself scrolling when waiting for something. In the dentist’s office or a quiet moment in the day to ‘catch up’ on your phone messages which turns into a ‘quick’ scroll on social media.
Get comfortable with waiting and sitting and listening. As you wait for your appointment or even for a season in life to pass, watch the light against the window, listen to the receptionist type, feel the sun press against your back from the window.
Set an Hour aside for doing a mentally invigorating task
Journalling is one of my favourite way to practice stillness and make room for clarity of mind. I reflect and let my pen glide across the page. Not only do I release unrest from my mind, but I find the space to write and create and I feel ushered into deep stillness. Dancing also gives me a similar release and clarity.
My husband, on the other hand, prefers not to journal, and I probably won’t ever find him dancing in order to ‘clear his mind’. (LOL.) He struggles to sit still for long and loves to bike ride to empty his thoughts and focus on movements.
Stillness creates restful symphonies because THROUGH stillness, we encounter deep and simple beauty in life: birdsong, the sun against the window, the feeling of our bodies moving to music, the sound of wind against the leaves, which we were initially blinded from by the rush of tasks to accomplish.
Process deeply with a friend
Clear your mind by sharing your heart with a trusted friend and sharing what’s on your heart.
Head-to-Toe and Heart-to-Soul Stillness
Often, I find my body ENJOYING stillness of sitting outdoors or ‘taking a break’ but my mind is restlessly churning over work or my to do list. Where do you resist stillness the most?
Stillness isn’t always a physical state of body. Stillness can be the thoughts we choose to dwell on and our ability to resist temptations such as scrolling or snacking, and choosing to keep our minds at rest while doing tasks.
Dancing, praying, running, walking, writing, listening, observing – these things can all be done in the stillness of being alone, and how deeply they clear our minds.
Relax your shoulders and your jaw. Where are you holding on to restlessness? Can you feel tension your forehead and fingers and feet? From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, relax your muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Clear your mind in stillness, and enjoy the simplicity of life.
You may also enjoy:
Why We Need to Slow Down and Stop Rushing
Why Being in a Season of Waiting is Incredibly Important and Beautiful
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