Theme of the Week: Creating Stillness
“Nowhere can a man find a quieter place than within his own soul.”
- Marcus Aurelius
Brother,
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that even in the middle of a noisy and demanding world, there is always a place we can return to for peace. That place is within ourselves.
Every day, life places demands on every single one of us. Work, health, family, friends, expectations, relationships; all of it begins to build pressure in the mind. Over time, that pressure can become overwhelming, and without realizing it, we lose our sense of stillness and inner peace.
For me, the pressure of life was amplified during cancer treatment.
For extended periods of time, I lived in a hospital room. Heavy steroids disrupted my sleep and affected my emotions. Machines beeped constantly. Nurses came in throughout the night. I shared a small room with another patient. There was noise all around me - and often, noise within me too.
Very quickly in that environment, I realized something important: no matter what was happening around me, I could still find peace and quiet within myself.
In the mornings, before anyone entered the room, before the medications took effect, and before the day fully began, I created space for stillness. For me, stillness is focussing on something positive that would support my mindset and keep me present.
On many mornings, I would first sit in the chair beside my desk and journal. I wrote out everything - thoughts, fears, concerns, and hopes. There was no structure to the writing, just honesty.
Then came positive affirmations. Some mornings, I read them through tears. Other mornings, I read them with great strength and determination.
Whenever my body was able, I then proceeded to engage in some form of physical activity. This included stretching, short walks, or light stationary bike rides.
Lastly, I would tidy up my room, make my bed, and take a warm shower.
I completed this routine or something similar everyday. I found that it truly helped to quiet the noise and restore my sense of peace, even amongst the chaos.
Although these actions did not change my circumstances. They did change how I met them. I felt more grounded, clear-headed, and present. Which supported my fight against cancer and overall well-being.
That is what stillness is.
It is not about escaping life or pretending stress does not exist. It is about creating a space within yourself to disconnect from the noise and experience inner peace.
That is the place Aurelius speaks about.
The quietest, most grounded place an individual can reach is within his own soul. And reaching that place requires stillness.
My experience taught me that no matter how loud or overwhelming life becomes, peace will always exist within myself.
Stay strong, even when you are not. It’s okay, you are not alone.
With love always,
Michael Argyrides
