Quieting the Buzz

Has anyone else felt an inability to quiet the buzz in their brain?

Like when you pause for a moment, you feel a sense of hypervigilance or inability to be quiet? Or the impulse to fill every moment with distractions?

The last few weeks have been like that for me, even with my mindfulness practice.

On top of the incessant noise of the world, the constant stimulation of media in all its forms – I decided to rescue a three-month-old puppy.

My thought was to ground myself in my heart by loving and caring for a new and precious life. However, I’d forgotten the reality of raising a puppy with no impulse control and constant needs.

Any chance of quiet in my home flew out the window with the entrance of my little Luca.

So, when the chance to sit an all-day silent meditation retreat arose through my MBSR teacher training, I grabbed it like a lifesaver.

I stocked up on long lasting treats to keep Luca happy and occupied in his crate for longer stretches.

I consciously let go of the puppy-induced hypervigilance – what’s he chewing now? Is he going to have an accident? How do I stop his shark teeth from destroying something valuable?

And welcomed dropping into a space of quiet and stillness.

Stillness did not come immediately. The first seated meditation was challenging.

The second mindful movement practice helped release more nervous energy. By the third meditation – the body scan – I tapped into a deeper sense of inner quiet while noticing and letting go of the parts of my body that were still holding on.

When I took Luca for a walk during a mid-morning break, I saw the world outside with more quiet and clarity. It seemed brighter. I noticed more beauty.

The day progressed with a lake meditation, mindful eating, walking meditation, and loving kindness. With each, I felt a deeper settling into myself and a sense of inner calm.

And a renewed gratitude for the mindfulness practice, which develops the inner resilience to respond with kindness to whatever outer stimulus exists.

On our Mindful Adventures, we go deep into these practices while surrounded by the peace of nature and the power of the ancient path of El Camino. The result is a vacation from the buzzing brain, and the skills to quiet it upon return to everyday life.

Wishing you a week full of moments of inner quiet.

Let your wisdom lead,

Robin