In today’s busy world we have increasingly less time for ourselves which is why it is increasingly more important than ever to take some time every day to calm ourselves and be more present with life. It is important to make a conscious effort daily to do something healthy for your inner well-being. The information below will outline a simple practice for doing Mindful Silence on a regular basis.

Developing a consistent routine to include Mindful Silence requires that we consider a few things:

• What is the best time for us to do this daily?
• Where in our schedules can we fit it in?
• Where can I do it?
• How long should I do it for?

We have these expectations in today’s world that we want instant results but life is not like this. If you plant a tree it takes time to grow – you don’t simply plant it one day and the next day it appears a towering bush over your house. Likewise the fruits of Mindful Silence take time to grow and cultivate in your life but it does have lasting and ongoing benefits if you do make the effort.

Don’t wait until you are in pain, hurting and unhappy before making a start – this is like waiting until you are near starvation before finally eating a meal. Each day we are hungry, so we eat. In the same way we practice Mindful Silence each day because our mind, hearts and bodies need the nourishment of being calm and still. It is quite subtle so we don’t notice and we let ourselves go under-nourished which leads to unhappiness. So give the practice time. Through constant practice we gradually cultivate more happiness.

If you can try and do 15-20 minutes of Mindful Silence every day, however 30 minutes is a good amount. With this your life will gradually improve. It does not happen overnight but within a few weeks, you’ll start to notice the subtle effects of the improvement in your life. This will compel you to naturally want to do more.

This really depends on your own schedule. Think about your regular daily routine and when you could fit in 15-20 minutes of quiet time. Typically early mornings before your normal wake up time or the evening before you go to bed are good times. Mornings tend to work best because you can get up and do it before you get caught up in the busy-ness of your day. Finding a regular time helps you feel like it is “Your time for Mindful Silence” and helps strengthen a routine.

Pick a nice spot in your house that has a good feel about it and use this same spot every day to sit and be still for a while. It could just be on the lounge, on the veranda or a quiet corner in another room where you can be alone, silent and still. Finding a regular place helps you feel like it is “Your place for Mindful Silence” and helps strengthen a routine.

If you have a particular spiritual or religious affiliation, then use this time to meditate or pray to the higher power or figure in your religion or use Mindful Silence to supplement that same practice. If you don’t have any affiliation, you can practice Mindful Silence all the same because it is an innate aspect of the human experience and you are simply using the qualities of silence, mindfulness and stillness within you. Learn how to participate in The Moment of Peace here.

Any practice like this benefits not only from consistency but also from regularly meeting with others of like minds to practice together. If you have a spiritual or religious affiliation, they most likely already have some type of weekly gathering. If you don’t, think about organising a time with some friends to get together and practise and talk about your life. Begin a conversation for the improvement of your lives. You can also seek out a meditation group in your area that practices some kind of mindfulness meditation.