Stillness: The Forgotten Superpower.
We’re constantly surrounded by movement, endless stimulation, overflowing to-do lists, digital noise, and relentless mental chatter. Productivity is praised. Busyness is worn like a badge of honour. But in the rush to get somewhere, to become someone, we’ve lost touch with something powerful and essential: stillness. Stillness isn’t just the absence of movement or noise. It’s not a void. It’s not passive. Stillness is full, of clarity, of presence, of insight. It’s a space where the mind settles, the nervous system softens, and the soul speaks. In a culture addicted to motion, stillness is a forgotten superpower. But it’s one we can reclaim, and in doing so, reconnect with the truest parts of ourselves.
Silence vs. Stillness: What’s the Difference?
Silence is the absence of external sound. Stillness is deeper, it’s the inner quiet that arises when we’re no longer battling ourselves. You can be in a silent room and still feel restless, distracted, or overwhelmed. Stillness, on the other hand, is a state of being, where the mind is calm, the body is grounded, and awareness is centred. Think of silence as the doorway, and stillness as the room you enter beyond it. It’s in stillness that insight is born. That’s where you meet your deeper truth, not the one shaped by fear or expectation, but the one that’s always been there, patiently waiting beneath the noise.
Stillness and the Nervous System: Why It Matters
Stillness has real physiological power. When we pause and allow ourselves to be fully still, physically, mentally, emotionally, our nervous system shifts from the sympathetic state (fight or flight) to the parasympathetic state (rest and digest).
In this state:
Heart rate slows
Breath deepens
Muscles release tension
Stress hormones decrease
The mind becomes more receptive and clear
It’s no surprise that so many people find peace in meditation, nature, prayer, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea. These moments of stillness aren’t luxuries, they’re medicine. They regulate the nervous system and reset our entire internal landscape. Stillness isn’t just relaxing, it’s restorative. It’s what your body and mind crave beneath the surface of constant doing.
Why We Avoid Stillness — and How to Stop Running
If stillness is so nourishing, why do we resist it? Because stillness is honest. When we stop moving, distracting, or numbing, we’re left with whatever we’ve been avoiding. Old emotions. Restless thoughts. Grief, boredom, loneliness. Or even just the uncomfortable feeling of not being “productive.” In stillness, there’s nowhere to hide. And that can be scary. So we run. Not just physically, but mentally, we scroll, binge, multitask, or stay busy just to avoid the quiet space where the truth lives. But here’s the paradox: the very discomfort we’re trying to avoid is what needs our attention. And only in stillness can we begin to feel, process, and release it.
To stop running:
Acknowledge the fear: Recognise that avoiding stillness is often a defence mechanism.
Start small: You don’t need an hour-long meditation. Begin with 2–3 minutes of stillness a day.
Be kind to yourself: Stillness isn’t always peaceful at first. It may stir things up, but that’s part of the healing.
Stay curious: Treat the discomfort as an invitation. What is your inner world trying to show you?
Stillness takes courage. But with practice, it becomes a refuge, not something to fear, but something to trust.
How to Create a Stillness Practice That Feels Natural
You don’t need to become a monk or retreat to the mountains to experience stillness. In fact, the most powerful stillness practices are often simple and personal. Here are some ideas to help you create a stillness ritual that fits your life:
Start with breath
Begin by sitting or lying down and simply observing your breath. No need to change it, just notice. Inhale. Exhale. Let your breath be your anchor.
Set a sacred space
Create a corner in your home that invites stillness. A cushion, candle, or favourite object can signal to your body: “This is a place of peace.”
Use nature as a guide
Spend time in nature without an agenda. Sit by a tree. Watch clouds. Listen to birds. Nature is still, yet alive, a mirror for your own stillness.
Try “micro-pauses”
Take 30 seconds during your day to stop, breathe, and feel your feet on the ground. These brief moments add up and help you reconnect throughout the day.
Let go of perfection
Stillness isn’t about emptying your mind or doing it “right.” It’s about presence. Even if your mind wanders, the act of returning is the practice.
Eventually, stillness stops being something you do, and starts becoming who you are.
The Spiritual and Psychological Insights Born in Quiet Moments
Stillness is where the noise dies down enough for you to hear what truly matters. It’s in those quiet, undistracted moments that your intuition speaks. Your core values become clear. You remember what you care about, what you’re grieving, what you’ve been longing for.
From a psychological standpoint, stillness allows you to:
Reflect on patterns and choices
Gain perspective on challenges
Process emotions without being overwhelmed
Connect to your internal wisdom
Spiritually, stillness is the space where the soul becomes audible. It’s where many people feel most connected to something greater, whether that’s God, the universe, or simply a deeper sense of self. Stillness becomes a doorway to presence, to awe, to belonging. Some of the most profound insights come not from thinking harder, but from getting quiet enough to hear the answer already inside you.
Final Thoughts: Stillness Isn’t Empty — It’s Full
With constant pressure to move faster, do more, and stay busy, stillness can seem counterintuitive, even rebellious. Yet this quiet space we often avoid is exactly what we need most. It’s not an emptiness to fill, but a presence to experience. Stillness reconnects you to your nervous system, your inner voice, your values, your truth. It slows the world down just enough for you to find your centre again. So the next time you feel overwhelmed or disconnected, don’t just reach for another distraction. Instead, try stillness. Sit. Breathe. Listen. You may be surprised by what emerges, not from outside you, but from deep within.
Because stillness isn’t empty.
It’s full of you.