Dear Wild One: Do Nothing. Change Everything.

The Art of Doing Nothing. Stop. Listen. Find Yourself.

My first exposure to meditation, or even knowledge of it, came from my world religions class at Nebraska Wesleyan. We read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, and I was mesmerized by the idea of embarking on a spiritual journey in search of something unknown yet missing.

At the time, as much as I wanted to emulate Siddhartha, I did not go on a spiritual journey, too caught up in worldly ideals, but the book influenced my path later on in life when I decided to get more serious about the search for my own meaning.

Meditation, or what I thought it was, scared me to some degree. Is there really an absence of thought, and what exactly does enlightenment feel like? Was it even possible for me to sit in silence with no thought, having been mocked as a child for being a sensitive and deep thinker? More importantly, the biggest question in my mind was, what was the purpose of meditation?

To me, meditation meant sitting for 10, 15, or 20 minutes doing your damndest not to think, and in some way, that absence of thought would bring unattachment. At first, I tried the traditional methods to find success - focus on breath, counting, etc. I was under the impression that you had to leave your body in order to gain anything from meditation. Having been a mental sufferer for all my life, enlightenment sounded…peaceful.

While that is a practice for many, mine looks quite different over twenty years later. I’ve drilled down through the layers of knowledge to figure out the why, the how, and the holy shit, this works.

For starters, I no longer call what I do meditation, but rather, sitting in stillness. Stillness resonated more with what I was trying to accomplish. Stillness allows me to quiet my mind and body and gives me space to listen. It isn’t always still. Sometimes I walk or hike. The purpose being connection and less distraction, not zero movement.

Out of my stillness practice, I have learned the most about myself. I discovered what I truly believe (not what someone has told me I should believe), what I trust, what I want, I’ve learned to reflect instead of ruminate, and I have found my inner wisdom. This quietness has led me to manifest all my deepest desires and dreams. The more certainty I have in what I hear while sitting in stillness, the more is brought into the light.

And so it is with great importance that I spare you the time and get straight to the point. What I’ve learned is that I’m seeking connection with myself and a higher power, and you are missing out. Meditation is not leaving your body or having an absence of thought. It is a powerful mind-body connection that gives you insight into your innermost thoughts and desires. The wild, unconditioned version of you that is curious, raw, free, and untethered. And why wouldn’t you want to talk to her and hear about what she wants?

So, Wild One, I implore you to… do nothing.

Stillness is the greatest tool you have to leverage your truth. The most authentic, wild version of yourself that may whisper to you from time to time. Conversely, stillness is also one of the most uncomfortable places for you to sit, with yourself.

If you’ve been searching for something more -the meaning, the purpose - wondering if you can in some way course correct, it starts with something as simple as doing nothing. It is the greatest piece of advice I could ever give you. Do nothing. Sit with yourself for ten minutes. Not trying to quiet the mind, but paying attention. Listening. To your heart. To your body.

Give yourself patience and grace. The first few minutes will be thoughts about your to do list, worries about things in your world, or ruminating about the past. Stay. It may feel overwhelming, but get curious about the discomfort. Send up a prayer for courage or recite an affirmation. Your nervous system will start to get on board and calm down, allowing you the space to find clarity and truth in your thoughts.

All great leaders have used stillness to make the biggest decisions or create masterpieces. For it is in this stillness that the solutions bubble to the surface.

Doing nothing is taking one step closer to walking in the wild of your life. Here, I promise you clarity, peace, and confidence that isn’t dependent upon someone else.

Start today, set a timer for 10 minutes, ask yourself where am I standing in my own way, and then just listen. Muddle through the mess of your mind and patiently wait for the answer to bubble up. Imagine what wisdom you already possess.

With love,

Abby