Writing Tips~Silence and Thought

I come from a long line of worrywarts. I’m good at thinking about the past and the future. On the other hand, I’ve read a lot about love vs. fear, and hope vs. despair and I’ve come a long way, baby. I’ve also read a lot about meditation. At first, I was afraid of it, because I thought it was strictly an Eastern religious practice and I’d lose my will power, if I tried it..

But as time went on and I became less ignorant, I began to see something worthwhile in being still and meditating. Also, I understood that meditation is also a Christian practice. The best example is, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Now, for me, meditation goes into the box called possibility, and here’s why. A wise pastor once told me that if something is true, no matter who believes it, it’s still true. That means the idea of meditation rings true to me and I’m trying it out.

The trouble is my worrywart brain loves nothing better than to grab any quiet moment and head down into the miry clay with it. That’s what the Bible calls depression: the miry clay. There’s also the falling asleep thing. Anyhow, I’ve looked into it. I’ve decided everything goes better with Christ, and I’ve done some praying. I can’t sit empty minded, but lately there comes a time early in the morning when I’ve done some journaling, had a few lovely sips of coffee, and finally I actually hear the music I have playing on Pandora . I sigh. I have a feeling of wanting to let down. I put my pen down. I take a deep breath. I listen. I hear a flutter of wings and birdcalls. I feel a September breeze promising cooler weather. In a short time, I’m ready to go back to work. Suddenly an idea comes to me. I write it down, then another, and another. Good ideas. I develop them.

In an article in the Saturday Evening Post, September/October issue called, “Time Out,” the author, Mark Matousic says about meditation, “its like doing pushups for the brain.”

Richard Carlson says, “Have you ever noticed that when you are quiet and silent, calm and still you know exactly what to do? Being silent doesn’t shut down your mind; it only activates a deeper kind of intelligence. No one knows for sure where this deeper intelligence comes from, or what it’s called, but all wise cultures are certain that it exists. When we are silent, it’s as if we tap into a universal source of wisdom. It’s as if our thinking comes to us, rather than us actively having to pursue our thoughts. It’s as if we get the benefit of “universal thought, instead of having to rely on our own limited thinking.” Don’t Worry, Make Money

I know a middle school teacher and father that sometimes takes a day off and meditates all day. But I don’t aspire to anything like that. I think for now, I’ll stick to my own kind of meditation. I call it Sensory Meditation where I hear, see, feel. That works for me, and it’s good enough for now.

If you’d like to know more about meditation, look   here

Happy writing,

Love,

DiVoran

Author: DiVoran Lites

DiVoran Lites is the author of the Florida Springs Trilogy, which includes Sacred Spring, Book one, Living Spring, Book two, and Clear Spring, book three. Her stand alone novel, Go West,is a sweet western romance set in the post WWI era in Colorado.  DiVoran loves to read poetry and  delights in writing it too. Born in Nevada, she grew up in Colorado and New Mexico. She and her husband, Bill, along with their young children moved to Florida in 1965 to participate in the Space program. Their house backs on a nature sanctuary, and DiVoran enjoys daily walks through the beautiful Florida woods on a trail. DIVoran is also part of a group blog, Old Things R New, where she shares poetry, paintings and memories. View all posts by DiVoran Lites