Reflections on Stillness

“The way we experience the world around us is a direct reflection of the world within us.”
​~ Gabrielle Bernstein

This week’s quote is a reminder that your internal state has a direct influence on how you perceive and experience the world. It rests on the basic assumption that your mind is like a lake. When the surface of a lake is calm, it accurately reflects the world around it. When the water is agitated, the reflection gets distorted. Therefore, in order to accurately reflect reality, it is important to keep your inner-lake as calm as possible. 

One way to keep your inner-lake calm is by keeping it still. When your mind races, it creates waves upon the surface. These waves are caused primarily by fear-based emotions such as worry, doubt and insecurity. Unresolved emotions like anger or jealousy can also contribute to these waves. Carrying around this inner turmoil has a way of amplifying your external experiences, making even the smallest inconvenience feel like a massive personal attack. When you perceive the world through a lens of fear, you begin to view the world as a threatening place- one where everyone and everything is out to get you. 


Of course, calmness is only part of the equation. Clarity is also important when it comes to accurately reflecting reality. Dirty water also reflects the world around it, but the reflection will likely be vague and blurry. What is the best way to achieve mental clarity? Again, stillness is the key. As Lao Tzu so succinctly put it, “Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.” The idea being that, if you leave a muddy puddle undisturbed for long enough, the mud will settle to the bottom, leaving the water crystal clear. In the same way, if you want to bring more calmness and clarity to your inner world, you simply need to step back and be still, allowing space for the process to occur naturally.  ​