Stillness Saved Me: How Slowing Down Helped Me Find Myself Again
Why release is the missing piece in your self-connection and success journey
There was a time when I consumed constantly. From the moment I woke up until the moment I went to sleep, I was taking in information, energy, and stimulation.
First it was coffee, then emails. Text messages, voice notes, social media posts, news updates, client sessions, newsletters, more messages. I didn’t realize it then, but my day wasn’t mine. It belonged to everything and everyone else.
I was always taking something in.
So it’s no surprise that I started to feel cluttered. Heavy. Disconnected. My mind felt crowded and noisy, like I was living in a house full of people but none of them were me. I felt confused about what I truly wanted and what I was even doing all of it for. I knew I was capable, I knew I was smart and driven, but beneath it all, I felt lost.
That’s when I started leaning into something I had been avoiding for years.
Stillness.
The Constant Consumption That Almost Broke Me
When I looked closely, I realized that I had built my identity around productivity and service. I was doing and giving constantly, but rarely checking in with myself. There was no space. No pause. No breath between all the output.
And it wasn’t just external consumption. It was energetic too. I was carrying the emotional weight of my clients, trying to hold space for everyone around me, and still expected myself to keep going like a machine.
Looking back, I now see that what I was calling ambition was actually anxiety. And what I thought was discipline was really disconnection.
So I stopped. Just long enough to hear what my body and spirit were trying to say.
When I Found Stillness, I Found Myself
Stillness didn’t come easy. At first, I thought I was doing it wrong. I expected it to feel peaceful and empowering right away. But honestly, it felt uncomfortable. I didn’t realize how unfamiliar I was with simply being with myself.
But two practices helped me find my way.
Journaling
This became my outlet for all the mental clutter. I didn’t need to have the perfect words. I just needed to write. Let it spill. All the thoughts, worries, hopes, questions. Things I had been carrying without even realizing it started to move through me.
Meditation
Meditation didn’t silence my mind. It showed me how loud it was. But the more I sat with it, the more I understood. It wasn’t about escaping the noise. It was about noticing it without becoming it.
Over time, stillness became the space where I found clarity. It became the mirror I didn’t know I needed. The one that showed me not just what I do, but who I am.
Meditation is where I found me.
You Can’t Find Peace if You Don’t Make Space
It’s easy to keep pushing forward and think rest or stillness can wait. But here’s what I’ve learned:
You can’t reconnect with yourself when you’re constantly plugged into everything else.
You can’t create when your mind is crowded.
You can’t lead with clarity if you never stop to hear your own thoughts.
Stillness and release are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
According to Psychology Today, rest and reflection are key to sustainable performance. Without regular pauses, we’re not productive—we’re just reactive. Another study shared by Harvard Business Review found that quiet time enhances creativity and improves decision-making.
Stillness is a success strategy. You just have to redefine what success looks like.
How to Create Space for Stillness and Release
You don’t need a full hour or a silent retreat. You just need moments where you intentionally stop consuming and start connecting.
Here’s how I suggest starting:
- Morning stillness
Before you reach for your phone or open your laptop, take five minutes to sit in silence. Breathe. Listen to yourself. - Journaling prompts for release
- What feels heavy right now
- What do I need to let go of
- What am I proud of that I haven’t acknowledged
- Meditation
Try starting with guided meditations. I recommend Insight Timer for free access to thousands of guided sessions. - Boundaries with input
Create time blocks during your day where you’re not taking anything in. No scrolling. No background noise. Just space.
You Are Not Lost. You Are Just Drowning in Noise.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, confused, or unmotivated—it might not be because you’re broken. You may just need stillness. You may need a safe space to be with yourself without expectations or noise.
You don’t have to earn peace. You just have to make room for it.
And when you do, you’ll be surprised by what you find.
Stillness doesn’t just quiet your mind. It reconnects you to your truth.
It’s where you remember who you are.
Want to go deeper?
Try my Sunday Reset Planner to build moments of reflection and realignment into your weekly rhythm.
Let me know if this post resonated with you or if you’ve been craving more stillness in your own journey. I’d love to hear what you find in the pause.
