Self Defense

Creating Power by Sitting Still

Can you create power by sitting still?

It’s counterintuitive. Sitting still and being quiet makes you more powerful. Doesn’t make sense, does it? Yet, being able to clear the chatter whirling about in your head and focus on what needs to be done in this present moment is a very important step for successful self-defense.

One of the hardest things I find with this whole meditation business is that even though I have the intention of sitting still, my thoughts keep telling me I’m wasting my time. There’s a war going on inside my head.

“I need to sit still and try to clear my mind.”

“No, you have too many other things to do!”

“This is supposed to be really good for me.”

“You could be writing right now, you know.”

“Must....clear..... away ..... thoughts..... off you go, now.”

“OK, let’s work your to-do list.”

“Clearing....  clearing....   breathing.... breathing....”

“You forgot to take the trash out this morning.”

“Oh shoot. Oops, back to breathing....”

An on and on it goes. The Knower trying to calm down the Thinker. I haven’t been practicing meditation long, but I am finding that with practice, the Thinker is getting slightly more quiet. It’s hard. Sometimes I can only be clear for a split-second. But with practice, even a minute at a time, it is getting easier and my split-seconds are turning into full and entire seconds of focus. I’m still working on the minutes.

Today, just sit still for one minute and focus on one thing. Just one. Only one. For 60 seconds. The goal is to get to that place, your “zone” where every other thought is forgotten except for your subject of concentration. Your subject can be the light of a candle, your breath going in and out, or ponder a question, one question or problem that you’ve been wrestling with and see what comes up. For 60 seconds.

Practicing every day, it will become easier and easier to quiet the chatter. Your ultimate goal is that, if you are ever in danger, you will have the power of focus on your side to figure out what you need to do to escape to safety.

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