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All of us have tossed and turned over day-to-day problems that land in our way. At times, the challenges of work and our personal lives can mount up. Often, what bothers us comes at us in multiple ways and from multiple directions. Juggling a decision about a work project, while worrying about a child’s grades, and then having a misunderstanding with a spouse is a challenge. Sometimes the challenge is in the mundane drudgery of daily life … sometimes the challenge is in the great questions of life. Periods of restlessness, frustration, and conflict are not exclusive to young people starting out on life’s journey. The hectic life is common to us all. Pause for a moment. Have you noticed how some people seem to have an extraordinary sense of depth, direction, and meaning in life? These people seem to accomplish such extraordinary things. What sets them apart? The great sculptor and artist Michelangelo would spend endless hours in the town square quietly observing people. Doctors today still marvel at the detail of the muscles in his works. A very successful financial advisor friend spends the first hour of her day by herself, preparing physically and spiritually for the day ahead. The space pioneer Robert Goddard would gaze endlessly at the stars as a child, wondering about the possibilities of space travel. Pope John Paul II, who would fill stadiums with spirited youth and also could command the attention of world leaders, would begin each day with the quiet of prayer. And one of the greatest moms ever (!) always started her day sitting quietly in the kitchen, often reflecting on what great adventures lie ahead. What sets these great people apart? Quiet. Each of them possessed a deep well, an extra reserve. They had a sense of what was important … a sense of what they wanted to do … a sense of why they were doing what they were doing. How do you get this sense? Quiet. The best way to deal with the day-to-day problems that land our way is … quiet. The best way to deal with the juggling, the challenges, the great questions that come our way … quiet. There is a power, a strength in quiet … if we pause and use it. The first step in capturing the power and strength of quiet is to set aside a time for quiet. Turn the radio off on the way to work. Go for a walk at lunch time. Get up a bit earlier, just for yourself. Set aside at least 30 minutes today for quiet, and the strength will immediately come your way! Here are a couple of observations about quiet … For many, morning is the prime time for quiet. There is a term “morning knowledge”. Our mental and emotional state is often at its peak first thing in the morning. Answers and creative solutions often come easier first thing in the morning. For the spiritual, prayer and a sense of closeness to God is often at its peak first thing in the quiet of the morning. Creative solutions come in the quiet. The noise of daily life shuts out one of our greatest gifts … our brain. On a deep level, when we are too caught up in the day-to-day hassles … the noise of life … our brain shifts to just treading water. Thinking is aimed at “just getting by”. Beating things over and over only adds to our stress and can lead to ineffective solutions. But when we quiet down … pause … and turn off the chatter … we allow all of our senses to tackle our questions. Studies have shown that certain kinds of problems actually are solved better by indirect thinking. Pause, reflect, think, and consider different aspects of what is in front of you. But then quiet down and allow for creative solutions to be presented to you. It may take a few days, but they will come. Listen. Those who are the strongest in life … with a great sense of depth, direction, and meaning … tend to be the best listeners. When we set aside quiet time, we begin one of the most powerful and life transforming processes that exists … we listen. When we listen instead of chattering … we begin to take in what is going on around us. The subtle hints of life present themselves to us. The noise of life is transformed into quieter messages … a piece of a news story connects to a work project … a colleagues’ comment sheds light on your child’s homework struggles … a song provides insight into a spouse’s communication. When we are quiet, we tend listen more. When we listen, life’s messages become so much clearer. For the spiritually inclined, the strength of quiet has much to do with the power of prayer. Even a non- believer knows that setting aside quiet time is a key aspect of answering life’s questions. There is a power in this truth. Resolve to exercise the strength of quiet: 1. Set aside quiet time today … 30 minutes. Detach yourself from the noise around you. 2. If evening is your time, gaze at the stars. If mid-day is your break, perhaps go for a walk and observe the people around you. If morning works for your schedule, find a special place to sit and allow the light to shine your way. 3. Quiet the mind. It is okay to toss things around for a few minutes, but then stop. Allow other forces to gnaw on it. 4. Listen to what is going on around you. Observe. 5. In the quiet of tomorrow will come the creative solutions that add power to our lives. When we set aside quiet time, our lives become stronger, more powered. Each of us can be an artist in life … each of us can land on the moon … each of us can achieve great wealth & success … each of us can be a light and change the world … each of us can be a great person and parent … when we capture the strength of quiet. Ever notice people who are so driven by what they do that they make you want to join in their excitement? What drives that co-worker to walk a little faster down the hallway to carry out their daily tasks? Just why does that volunteer seem to bubble with joy over that monumental undertaking? And let’s look more closely at what it is that makes “the life of the party” tick! Our next newsletter is entitled, “Why the Passion?” Return To Main Page |
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