One of the most impressive things I saw this week—maybe even this month—was two of my martial arts students sitting quietly and patiently in the school’s lobby, while their younger sister took class, without a single screen, device, game, toy, meal, snack, conversation, etc., to distract them, entertain them, or consume their attention.
How rare a sight it is to see not even just kids, but adults, sitting plainly, without anything to distract or entertain them while time passes by…
…It’s no wonder it’s so common for people of all ages to have attention disorders, poor self-esteem, crippling anxiety, non-clinical depression, stunted imaginations, and/or complicated/toxic relationships.
In my experience, it all boils down to the fact that so many people have such a hard time just sitting with themselves. Even for just 10 – 20 minutes out of a day.
…For it’s the sitting with ourselves that we’re able to heal our attention addictions, focus inwardly and less outwardly, calm our minds from the overstimulation, remove the hyper-comparisonism, free our imaginations, and/or stay fully present with the people in our presence.
Try it.
Just sit with yourself for 10-20 minutes a day. Stimulation-free. Watch what happens to your mind. Let the uncomfortable cravings to re-stimulate come and go. Drift slowly away from the modern day addictions. Allow yourself to turn inward and deepen the relationship you have with yourself. Enough with the unnecessary overstimulation from the world.
P.s. This post only emerged after I sat and stared at my computer screen for 43 unstimulated minutes. Good things come to those who are patient with themselves.