Reflections in the Forties — Part 9 - The Power of Stillness

 For most of my life, I equated movement with progress. If I was busy, I felt productive. If my calendar was full, I felt relevant. Stillness, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable — even wasteful. 

But in my 40s, I’ve begun to understand the quiet power of stillness.

Stillness is not inactivity. It is intentional pause.

It’s the space between actions where clarity emerges. It’s in these pauses that we hear our own thoughts, notice our patterns, and recognise what truly matters. When life is constantly loud, important signals get drowned out. Earlier, I filled every gap — scrolling, planning, doing, achieving. Today, I try to protect moments of silence. A walk without headphones. A few minutes of reflection before the day begins. Sitting with a thought instead of rushing to resolve it.

Stillness creates perspective. It slows the mind enough to distinguish urgency from importance. It allows emotions to settle and decisions to mature. Many of the best insights I’ve had didn’t come during intense effort, but during calm, unoccupied moments. In a world that celebrates speed and constant output, choosing stillness feels almost rebellious. Yet, it is often the most productive thing you can do.

Stillness helps you respond instead of react. It helps you listen instead of assume. It helps you choose instead of drift.

As I grow older, I no longer see stillness as a luxury. I see it as a necessity — a way to reconnect with myself amid the noise.

Because sometimes, the most powerful move forward begins with a pause.