Wisdom is Born in the Quiet

Mind

Feb 19

The importance of slowing down is EVERYTHING. Somewhere, someone, or perhaps something taught us to go go go. I have read help books about waking up at 5am to win the day, how to maximise 3 days in one day and the list goes on and on. Recently, every book I read is about finding peace, contentment, happiness through a slower pace of life.

“Hurry kills wisdom; wisdom is born in the quiet, the slow. Wisdom has its own pace. It makes you wait for it-wait for the inner voice to come to the surface of your tempestuous mind, but not until waters of thought settle and calm.”

(Comer, John Mark, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry).

Oh my goodness, that gives me goosebumps… am I ever going to be calm and settled in my own mind to be able to hear the inner voice? This makes me want to fight for the things that calm my mind. I want more quiet-still moments, breathing, reading, hiking, jazz, praying, cooking, all the things that quiet my soul. John Mark Comer reminded me that your phone doesn’t actually work for you. You pay for it, yes. But it works for a multibillion-dollar corporation in California, not for you. You’re not the customer; you’re the product. It’s your attention that’s for sale, along with your peace of mind. Yikes this thought really scared me that this digital age we live in really has caused me to lose my peace of mind.

This week I had the privilege of speaking to Mariel Bateman who is the founder of Mindful Sonder. Mindful Sonder is centred around the mind, body and spirit. Mariel takes a holistic approach to wellbeing, which focuses on three areas: Life Coaching, Nutrition and Yoga. Mariel really dives in to moving from a state of deep dissatisfaction to contentment and true happiness. She said something very spot on for our day and age:

“We are all living very connected yet so disconnected all at once.”

From our smart phones, apps, games, social media, work, relationships; what good is all the connection if we feel disconnected from our soul? Hearing her speak to this, will make you think about where you are at in life and how to cultivate what you want in your life. She then talked about an epiphany she had; ‘when making a living and living your life, point in opposite directions.’ Lately I have realised I live in spurts of balance but consistently go back in to overdrive.

I try to find balance and peace but I find I have a pull towards that MORE. I say yes to this meeting, yes to this phone call, yes to blah blah blah…. I realised I don’t want to wait for my walls to crumble to adjust but rather find the purpose and balance of saying NO to that MORE and yes to the things that still my mind so I can feel the calmness in the day to day.

It is never easy to make a change. I am going to be checking out and fasting for a few days to reset. I want to explore what in my life is giving value and what is sucking the life out of me. I think Mariel is right that leaving your current circumstances or making a shift can make you feel naked and vulnerable but finding happiness and peace is more important. I have joined Mariel Batemans studio at kuula.tv and I will be spending my weekend doing a few classes in her online studio. Thank you Mariel for pouring in to us all and encouraging us. I am excited about your space, grace & happiness class as you give us space to be present and process, accepting what we can not control or change but regaining our power and propelling us in to action. Check out this weeks episode of ‘the balanced girl’ to hear more from Mariel Bateman, founder of Mindful Sonder.