Week 10: The Power of Stillness—How to Think Clearly in a Noisy World
- Glen Jensen
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
What if the fastest way to move forward was to stop moving at all?
What if the key to getting more done isn’t pushing harder, thinking faster, or doing more… but actually doing less?
What if stillness is not weakness, but power?
The Noise That Steals Your Mind
Have you ever stood in the middle of a busy street, watching cars fly by, feeling like the world is moving too fast for you to keep up?
The same is true inside your head. If you stand outside yourself, lost in distractions, everything feels overwhelming. But step back into yourself, and suddenly, you're in control.
But then, if you’re in one of those cars, the movement feels smooth, even slow.
It's all about perspective.
When you're outside yourself, disconnected, life feels like an uncontrollable blur. But when you step back into yourself—when you integrate—you’re not just moving faster, you’re moving with clarity.
There’s a war happening inside your head.
Not one with guns or soldiers, but a battle of voices.
Some belong to the past, whispering regrets. Others belong to the future, shouting worries.
And then there’s the loudest one of all—the world around you, demanding attention like a child throwing a tantrum in a grocery store.
We live in an era where silence is suspect. People fidget when things get too quiet.
It's almost as if we've been trained to fear the void, to believe that stillness means something is wrong.
Instead, what if it meant something was finally right?
Think of your mind like a snow globe. If you shake it constantly, everything is swirling chaos.
But let it sit, let it rest, and what happens?
The snow settles. The scene becomes clear.
That is the power of stillness.
Ancient Wisdom for a Modern Problem
Stillness isn't some new-age idea. The wisest minds in history have been onto this for centuries.
The Stoics knew it. Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul.”
Laozi, the great Daoist sage, put it this way:
"Muddy water, let to stand, becomes clear."
Even the samurai understood this. They trained in Fudoshin, the ability to remain calm in the face of chaos.
Stillness wasn’t a luxury; it was a weapon.
Today, the battle is different, but the weapon is the same.
Instead of swords, we fight notifications, deadlines, and the expectation to always be "on."
And if we don’t find ways to cultivate stillness, we lose not just our focus, but our sense of self.
How to Train Your Mind to Be Still
Let’s get practical. Here are three ways to cultivate stillness, even when the world is spinning:
1. Floor Time
People assume elite special forces move fast, but in reality, they move with precision.
Their motto says it all:
"Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
This is mindfulness in action.
And the same is true for your body.
Lie on a solid yet comfortable surface.
Let gravity hold you.
Give your subconscious permission to release tension.
What happens when you let go? You find clarity.
No phone, no music, no distractions. Just you, gravity, and stillness.
Try it. The mind resists at first, then it settles, then… clarity.
2. Micro Pauses
Before answering a message, before responding to an email, before jumping to the next task—pause.
Feel the urge to react, then wait. Let the moment settle and watch how it shifts your response.
Those tiny spaces create room for better choices.
3. Nature Stillness
Sit or better yet, lie outside.
No agenda. No phone.
Watch the trees. Feel the wind. Listen.
The world moves, but it does not rush.
There’s a lesson in that.
A Poem for the Still Ones by RWG
The world claps its hands,
demands you dance,
fill every silence,
crush every chance for quiet.
But the wise ones know,
there is music in stillness,
there is power in pause,
there is space where the soul breathes.
So sit warrior, and listen.
Want to Go Deeper? Here Are Some Books That Expand on Today’s Theme:
A modern take on the ancient wisdom of stillness, pulling lessons from Stoicism, Buddhism, and powerful historical figures who mastered the art of clarity.
A science-backed guide to slowing down, building resilience, and leading a more focused, fulfilling life.
Zen wisdom on how to be present, cultivate peace, and live deeply in every moment.
Final Thought
The world will not slow down for you.
That’s not its job.
But you?
You can slow down for yourself.
And when you do, you don’t just find clarity.
You find yourself.
So take a deep breath.
Take one step back.
Then, move forward with clarity.
Stay still. Stay sharp. See clearly.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This helps support the content I create—thank you for your support!
Soft CTA – Let’s Talk
Where do you find stillness?
A morning ritual? A walk without your phone? A small pocket of silence before bed?
Hit reply—I’d love to hear how you make space for clarity.
And if this post resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who could use a little more stillness in their life.
Next Week: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Your inputs shape your future.
What you eat, watch, and listen to—it all programs your mind and body.
Next week, we’ll explore how to optimize what fuels you.
Stay tuned.
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