#OA2

Being Still: Your Weekly Dose of Wellness and Wisdom

​

Hello Reader,

It’s Oluwatoni here with your weekly dose of wellness and wisdom.

How did your week go?

Mine was a mix of gratitude, ticking off to-do’s on my list, being intentionally restful, and spending time nurturing my spiritual health.

This week, your dose of wellness and wisdom is about being still. You didn’t see that coming now, did you? If this term is new to you, you might picture being motionless, staring into space. While this can do some good too, being still is a mindset and heart posture.

Why should you be still? Contrary to what it depicts, being still is a great precursor to going the distance and going the distance well. With a mind at rest, your creative juices can flow, your loved ones get the best version of you, you can do the things you were created to do, and you can see beyond your nose.

So, what’s the practicality of being still, how do you do that? From my heart to yours, here are some ways I am continuously learning to practice stillness:

1. Deep breathing: Remember the technique I shared in my first email? Take a moment to inhale deeply for 5 seconds, followed by a slow exhale. This simple practice calms the mind, stabilises blood pressure, and promotes vital oxygen exchange.
2. Journaling: This is such an underrated treasure. I wrote about it on my blog here. Moving thoughts from my mind to paper, or even a voice memo helps declutter my mind and untangle any persistent and intrusive thoughts. These could be fears about the future, anxieties about the present, or feelings of inadequacy.
3. Taking a prayer walk: Whenever I hit a roadblock at work, I embark on a prayer walk to a quiet spot (my "top-secret" corridor) and get my steps in by walking back and forth. Stepping away from tasks to pray not only clears my mind but also leaves me feeling rejuvenated and at peace.
4. Listening to instrumental music: Music is therapeutic. By eliminating lyrics, instrumental tracks provide a serene backdrop for relaxation and mental clarity. Personally, I enjoy DappyTKeys – highly recommended!
5. Sharing with loved ones: "A problem shared is a problem halved." By speaking about burdening thoughts, this lessens the load, and times I have spoken to a loved one, I have left lighter, assured, more confident and with a heart at rest.
6. Reading and applying scripture: My faith is such a sure anchor. It’s healed my heart and mind, given me hope countless times. It’s reminded me to be still (Psalm 46:10), to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-8 – super practical, tell me if you see the steps in it!), and to cast my care because God cares (1 Peter 5:7). I highly recommend.

If your mind is buzzing from thoughts, I recommend checking out the 'Whoa That’s Good' podcast by Sadie Robertson, where she explores strategies for dealing with anxious thoughts alongside Dr. Amen - Don't Believe Everything You Think.

I'll leave you with these invaluable gems to nurture stillness in your life until we reconnect in the coming week Reader.

Stay healthy,

Oluwatoni