One recent Tuesday morning after my group run workout, the practice ended with a post-run yoga session. It began with a simple breathing and mindfulness exercise: Just lie still on the mat and breathe. 

Well this is nice. We just finished a tough workout, and the recovery breaths are welcome.  I notice the chatter and song of morning birds; clouds drifting overhead; “Saturn,” by Sleeping at Last playing at just the right volume. A gentle breeze above; the solid ground below. 

And then…the exercise seemed to be lasting quite a while. I think of myself as being relatively comfortable with quiet, but my mind was getting jumpy. Are we almost done? How long has it been? It feels like at least five minutes. Maybe ten? Did she forget to set a timer and let us keep lying here too long? I’m trying to stick with this, but distraction pulls at me from every side. I thought this would be easier than it is…just try to relax. RELAX!

Is this mindfulness, to be made aware of all the distractions in my mind? 

Finally, the cue  to move on: It had been two minutes. Two minutes! 

I noticed how challenging it had been for me to be still and how uncomfortable I felt with the stillness, and remembered the practice of 5 quiet minutes that I used to do each morning. I have strayed so far away from the practice that I actually forgot about it. 

I have been wanting to build more reflection into my life lately, but it’s been hard to grasp. Even waking up earlier to make time to get in Scripture, I find it hard to direct the time. I’m prone to feel rushed, to chase distractions; to pick up my phone or start a to-do list. The purpose is grounding in truth and renewing my mind. But my mind can’t be renewed if I don’t ever take stock of what’s in there. I resolved that a return to practicing five minutes of quiet would be a good step. 

Later that day, Dr. Kim and I recorded a Healthy Self / Healthy Marriage episode on spiritual and emotional health for the AM Podcast. I mentioned an exercise I have learned (thank you, Scazzeros!) of taking 2 minutes to write about each emotion: Happy, anxious, sad, mad, and how 2 minutes can bring up a surprising amount of things. 

As I said this I reflected internally on my two minutes that morning. The ignition of this two-minutes theme clicked on so clearly that you might see a lightbulb over my head in the podcast video! And this in turn reminded Dr. Kim of the challenge that his pastor has given: to take five minutes of quiet each day. 

There’s something special in this crazy-busy world about having a lightbulb moment about the power of quiet and then hearing someone else share the same thing. There’s a collective need for renewal, and there is value in fighting to make time to think our own thoughts. 

So today, whether 2 minutes or 5, I’m taking time to let quiet in. To welcome the thoughts; even the ones that feel like distractions, and let them pass through. To break from pressure and productivity and become aware of what already is. 

What’s on your mind today? What happens when you take the time to let quiet in; let the dust settle and the chaos clear?