Mindful Life Changes: Weekly Affirmations For Midlife

62. Affirmation for Stillness: Finding Peace in the Midst of Chaos

• Valerie Mekki • Episode 62

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In this episode, we explore the practice of cultivating stillness amidst the busyness and chaos of everyday life. Host Valerie Mekki shares insights on how to find moments of inner peace and calm, even when you don't have the luxury of taking a full day off. Learn practical tips to quiet your mind, such as setting the right environment, silencing your phone, focusing on your breathing, and using gentle background sounds. By incorporating these techniques, you can create a sense of stillness and tranquility that helps you recharge and face life's challenges with resilience.


Valerie also guides you through a calming affirmation practice designed to invite stillness and mindfulness into your daily routine. Imagine watching a serene sunrise and feeling a hush take over your body, heart, and mind, allowing you to fully embrace the present moment. Whether you're navigating the demands of work, family, or personal obligations, this episode offers valuable strategies to help you cultivate a state of calm and clarity, empowering you to approach each day with a renewed sense of peace.


Formerly known as the "Mindful Career Change Podcast," I decided to broaden our conversation to cover all life transitions, not just our careers.

Follow the show @mindfullifechanges and DM a question or comment about the life transitions you're going through too. I might answer your question in one of the episodes to help you and other midlifers navigate this everchanging and beautiful season of life.

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Connect with me on LinkedIn @valeriemekki

Speaker 1:

Today's affirmation. I am present in the moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. When was the last time you actually gave yourself a day of rest, an entire day off to do nothing, nothing for other people, no chores, no errands, no projects and, by the way, being on vacation doesn't count. But I have to admit that even if I scheduled a day off and gave myself permission to take a break from my responsibilities and obligations, I'm not sure how relaxed I would be. I think I would spend the whole time thinking I should be doing this or that, feeling guilty for not being productive. I know that's not a healthy way of thinking, but right now, in this phase of life, it's my reality. Between taking care of my aging parents, raising kids, keeping up with work and side projects, there really isn't any freedom or time to take a full day off, and I think that's okay. If you're experiencing the same phase as me, I know you're feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders and although we are strong and capable of getting through this time, there still needs to be a counterbalance so you don't burn out or have everything come crashing down. You might not have a full day of rest, but there are ways to capture moments of inner peace and stillness. You just have to learn how to cultivate them.

Speaker 1:

Hello and welcome to the Mindful Life Changes podcast, where we dive deep into the challenges and transformations shaping our lives, from shifts in our roles at home and work to the transitions we navigate physically and mentally as we gracefully age. I'm your host, valerie Mechie, a career change guide and mindfulness enthusiast. In today's episode, we are going to explore how to create moments of peace and calm in the midst of busyness of life, since we don't have the time to take a whole day off, but we owe it to ourselves to find some time for stillness. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, navigating a challenging period with your family, managing work responsibilities or handling other major life changes, it's easy to feel stretched and pulled in every direction. Midlife can often feel like you're a rubber band being stretched to its limits. It's crucial to find ways to release the tension. Even if you don't have the luxury of a full day off, taking small moments to find stillness can make a significant difference. But before we learn to be still, what does it really mean to practice stillness?

Speaker 1:

Stillness is a mental state where you are consciously lowering the volume of chatter in your mind. It involves turning off problem-solving thoughts and stopping yourself from thinking about what's coming up next. It's about being fully in the moment, being present. I like to refer stillness as cultivating a hush. I love the definition of hush A silence or calm. Especially following noise, it sounds and feels like you're easing your way into quietness, even in the midst of chaos and noise. A hush is a gentle way of lowering the volume. It's a more realistic and accurate depiction of how our minds work. You can never completely silence your thoughts, but you can quiet them down.

Speaker 1:

So how do you practice stillness? You might think you need to be sitting in a quiet room and meditating as ideal practice, but since stillness is a state of mind, your body doesn't actually have to be still. Although I would never discount the value of a sitting meditation, I am also a big fan of walking meditations. It's a way to practice stillness while releasing tension or negative energy through simple body movements. Or think about how you drive your car. Driving in your car on a familiar road can also help. The default mode network, also known as a DMN, in your brain takes over, also known as the autopilot mode, allows you to perform tasks reasonably without much conscious thought be another way to practice stillness. The sensation of water flowing on your skin and the sound of the water can help you enter a meditative state of mind and stillness. These are easy and effective ways to practice stillness, especially if sitting silently doesn't come easily to you or feels uncomfortable. However, while you're engaging in these moments of practicing stillness, you also need to cultivate that hush I mentioned earlier.

Speaker 1:

Here are some tips on how to quiet the mind. Number one set the environment. Lowering the shades or lights can prime your mind and body into a relaxed state. Tip number two silence your phone. Obviously, you can't practice stillness with constant stimulation and distractions. Set a silence notification timer on your phone for the allotted time that you want to be still. Tip number three focus on your breathing. Deep, slow breaths can help calm your mind and bring you into the present moment. For guidance on basic breathing techniques, check out episode 17, where I guide you through three simple exercises. Tip number four use gentle background sounds. Soft ambient sounds or calming music can help create a soothing environment, masking any distractions or noises and helping you focus on stillness. If you like the music we use on this podcast, search for chill lo-fi to find similar vibe and sound. By incorporating these tips to help cultivate a hush and calmness into your everyday life, you can create a space for positivity, enabling you to face the next challenges with more resilience, or simply get through the day. It's completely accessible and you can stop whatever you're doing and practice stillness whenever you need it.

Speaker 1:

With that being said, let's take advantage of this present moment with a calming affirmation session that invites stillness. We'll start our affirmation practice by priming your mind and body so you'll be open to this affirmation. Take a cleansing breath in and out, releasing any energy that doesn't serve you in your body. Release that tension. Take one more breath in and out.

Speaker 1:

I'll begin by reciting the affirmation twice. While you listen to the affirmations, imagine you're writing this affirmation down on a whiteboard or you're watching someone write it on the board for you. This will help with memorization. So let's begin. I am present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. I am present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. Present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me.

Speaker 1:

I'll repeat the affirmation again, but this time I want you to repeat it out loud to yourself so you can make a connection. I am present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. Aware and embrace the calm within me. I'll repeat the affirmation again. The beautiful, warm waves are rising up on the horizon. There's a hush that takes over this place, your body, your heart and your mind. You're captivated by the sunlight that will provide energy and light for whatever lies ahead.

Speaker 1:

I'll repeat this affirmation again and as I do so, imagine yourself in full action and in full color. I am present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. I'll repeat it one last time and give you a moment to let it sink in. I am present in this moment, fully aware, and embrace the calm within me. When you're ready, slowly open your eyes, if you had them closed and if it feels comfortable to you, place your hand over your heart. To help seal this affirmation, practice with self-love and care. This affirmation is yours to recite and practice for at least 21 days once a day. It's most effective before you go to bed at night or when you wake up in the morning, before you start your day. To deepen your affirmation practice, consider making your affirmations sticky. Write this affirmation down on a sticky note and place it on your bathroom mirror or laptop as a gentle reminder that you can access stillness at any time, so you're able to make room for positivity and peace. Or transform this affirmation into a short mantra I am present in the moment or I embrace the peace within me. Repeat it to yourself as you go on your walk, while you're doing yoga or as you are setting your environment to practice stillness.

Speaker 1:

Earlier, I briefly described the phase of our lives as being stretched in all different directions. I'm calling this midlife phase as our rubber band era. If you are curious to learn more about this and what it means, check out episode 40 for the full explanation. I'll include the link in the show notes. Make sure to subscribe and bookmark this episode so you'll have it handy whenever you need a quick guide of this affirmation. If you found this episode to be helpful, share it with a friend or family member who may need to learn how to practice stillness in their life, or show your appreciation by giving us a rating on this podcast, wherever you are listening. Your support will help other midlifers discover this content so we can grow and blossom together. Thank you for sharing this time and space with me, every moment you're dedicated to being mindful is a step towards a more fulfilled and vibrant life. Keep embracing your midlife journey with an open heart and remember you are not alone in this. I look forward to our next mindful gathering. I'll talk to you soon.