A Quiet Mind

Slow down and take it in

Multi-resting, the name I gave last month’s blog was noticed by over 50% of subscribers to A Cause Greater. Multi-resting also had an extremely high click-through rate as identified by any measure on social media. 

But what impressed me more than any thing else was that people like you spent time reading the blog. Now that might sound obvious, but in today’s frantic, forgetful, and frustrating world, Multi-resting did what it was designed to do…it created space to think more clearly, feel more deeply, and act more justly.

For all of this, I must say thank you.

Because you have picked up on Multi-resting, I’ve decided to write three additional blogs on this very topic. Today’s blog is on developing a quiet mind, next month’s on having a calm heart, and finally, having still hands. 

A Quiet Mind

I was walking recently alongside Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta and noticed this sign on a pole. It occurred to me that this is exactly what we are referring to when seeking to have a quiet mind. And how often our minds are missing and we can’t seem to find them.

Developing a quiet mind requires us to slow things down. We are not trained to do that. In fact, we are trained to do the opposite. To speed things up, to push harder, to go further. When this happens, we can inadvertently check out our brains. It can be too complicated to think, we are getting things done. Look at all we’ve accomplished. That’s great, right?

Maybe not.

Having a quiet mind means that we not always reacting to what we are experiencing. Our mind is calm, at peace when we experience an input. Our mind can receive what we are sensing, hold it in front of ourselves without absorbing it; notice it and not immediately do something in response. 

That is complex and is one reason why it is easier to shut off our brain, to stop thinking, and just do something to deal with the situation at hand.

As Process Consultants, we are trained to do the opposite. To first listen, inquire, consider, and think. This allows us (you the Client and me the Process Consultant) the create clarity on what has happened. To have alignment on what will be a helpful next step to take. To be present and share what we are learning. 

In his book, An Ocean of Light, Martin Laird describes three mental states your mind can be in:

Reactive mind - - - - - Receptive mind - - - - - - Luminous mind

This triad (reactive, receptive, luminous), can be very helpful when asking yourself, where is my mind at right now? Am I judging (reactive) what just happened or am I curious to learn more? Am I taking time to consider (receptive) what I just experienced, or have I already decided what I’m going to do without taking time to think it through? Am I considering how my actions will impact others (luminous) or am I just wanting to take care of myself at this point?

• A quiet mind creates space for wisdom to show up.
• A quiet mind allows time to remind ourselves what we have already learned.
• A quiet mind uses that learning again and again and again.
• A quiet mind seeks truth.
• A quiet mind __________________________ (put your answer here.)

As you go through the rest of your day, consider where your mind is at. Consider Laird’s language of reactive, receptive, and luminous minds.

Where did your mind go today?

Jot down your answer on a piece of paper. Take a moment to notice what happened to you, take time to notice how your brain responded, and what happened next.

Slow it done a little. You’ll be glad you did. 

Mind how you go,

Lon

Lon L. Swartzentruber

Design Group International
CEO & Managing Partner

PS: If you would like to learn more about the listening, helping, and learning approach, please give me a call me at 616.516.9870, or schedule a 30-minute discovery call , or simply email me at lons@designgroupintl.com.