Stillness Is The Key

Stillness Is The Key will show you how to harness the power of slowing down your body and mind for less distractions, better self-control, and, above all, a happier and more peaceful life.

Imagine waking up to learn that your enemy is building missiles just miles away from your country’s border. This was the reality for John F. Kennedy in 1962 when the Soviet Union began constructing missile sites in Cuba. The threat of a nuclear attack on America was suddenly very real. 

This was especially stressful for Kennedy, who knew that at least 70 million lives were at stake. His advisors cautioned him to destroy the missile stations. But he knew that failure in this would be catastrophic. So what did he do to handle the situation successfully? Kennedy took time to pause and think.

Rather than immediately deciding, he began to reflect on the matter. He would write notes repeating the words “Missile” and “Leaders” over and over. Swimming in the White House pool and spending time in the Rose Garden gave him space to think. 

After a while, Kennedy decided to go with a blockade of Cuba. This gave his opponent, Nikita Kruschev, time to think as well. Nearly two weeks later Kruschev sent Kennedy a letter in which the recognized the destruction a conflict would cause. This was the beginning of the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Rather than displaying strength, actions of peaceful solitude helped Kennedy resolve this potential catastrophe. Similarly, when you take time to slow down after any sort of issue, you’ll find the clarity and calm helps you make better decisions.

Pay attention to your surroundings right now. How much noise is present? Perhaps you’ve got your headphones in and you’re listening to your Spotify playlist. Or maybe you’re hearing the bustle of the coffee shop you’re in. Whatever your situation, chances are your life is noisier than you might think. While all of the commotion might not be bad for you, the lack of silence is a missed opportunity for greater calm and simplicity. This was a major focus of the life of experimental composer John Cage. Silence was an obsession of his. At one high school speaking event he declared his believe that the US should have a national day of quiet. His best known work is 4’33, which is a musical piece with nothing but four-minutes and 33 seconds of uninterrupted silence. It might sound crazy, but it’s rather profound. Take the experience one pianist had while performing it for the first time. The audience got to notice the wind and rain outside because of the silence. After it was over Cage mentioned that silence doesn’t really exist…