Slow Down: Stillness Training

Stillness is wonderful.  Acquiring greater stillness doesn't stop you.  It lets you move profoundly in the world.

Stillness training is a big part of acting training.  The idea is that stillness is at the core of all skillful action.  We talk about "being present."  It has been the most elusive part of acting and life for me.  Probably because I'm trying to quickly and blindly perform a task to get instant gratification (even where there is none to be had.)  Or on my best days, I'm trying to be still.  I've learned that trying to be still is actually counter-productive.  You can't just think "still" or think "focus."

Stillness is a skillful practice and discipline.  The best way to attain stillness is to perform the action of slowing down.  Slow down your actions.

Life is full of signals.  Striving striving striving you may be able to get things done.  But it is exhausting.  Or worse.  We can be so obsessive that we get tunnel vision and move so fast that we can strive right passed the moment and miss a lot of these (obvious) signals.  Missing the mark.

What's helped some with the slowing down is that I've been trying to shake the"life is about getting good grades" mentality from my youth.  Acquiring stillness will help your relationships, friendships, creativity, health, physical exercise, and every other aspect of life.    Some improvements you may notice when you slow down and actively connect to what you are doing or who you are talking to (look them in the eye and listen/talk) are that stillness leads you to greater listening skills, clarity of thought, and less social discomfort.