Can you imagine what it would be like to be silent for ten days, spending 12 hours each day not even moving?
I do this once a year.
My experience is that for the initial days, your mind and body resists this shift from the “real” world. Your mind wanders. You have countless reactions: I’m hungry, bored, stiff, sore, lonely, frustrated…
But then it flips.
You enter a flow state. You LOVE being quiet and still. You experience bliss and want to remain longer in this silent retreat.
What was once hard becomes easy, pleasurable and desirable.
I’ve just described one of the “support structures” I need in order to lead mindfulness workshops that help teams increase their resilience. Without regularly taking myself out of everyday life, thoughts and actions… I would not be able to be as effective a mindfulness guide. My knowledge and experiences would be superficial at best.
What support structures do you need to reach your goals? What do you need to keep your mind, body and heart in ideal shape to accomplish what you most want to accomplish?