The only place the mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart.

Sunday mornings often carry a peculiar quietude. It’s as if the world is taking a collective breath, a moment of pause before the week’s relentless pace resumes. This quietude is a gentle invitation to look inward, a reminder that the most profound journeys of self-discovery begin within.

“The resting place of the mind is the heart. The only thing the mind hears all day is clanging bells and noise and argument, and all it wants is quietude. The only place the mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart. That’s where you need to go.” –  Elizabeth Gilbert

“I would like to spend the rest of my days in a place so silent–and working at a pace so slow–that I would be able to hear myself living.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

“There is a reason they call God a presence – because God is right here, right now. In the present is the only place to find Him, and now is the only time.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

“And then, in that regal silence, finally – I began to meditate on (and with) God.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

And to add the wisdom of one more beautiful teacher:

“God speaks in the silence of the heart.” – Mother Teresa

Often, when we try and take a good look at our “self”, when we take a look in the mirror, we come up against all our worst qualities first. We see all of our worst habits and all of the “bad” things that we have done, and we mistakenly believe, “this is who I am…”

It takes dropping from the noisy mind into the silent heart and really spending time there to slowly, slowly learn who we are underneath all the layers of fear and armour that have been our reaction to the world for so long. It takes time in this inner stillness to get clarity on who we really are, so that we can finally be ourselves.

The heart is where the mind goes to catch a break, to get some rest, and this gives us the opportunity to practise being our true selves, and we need this practice too! Because even after we’ve become really good at recognizing our true being, when we get up from a meditation and step into the world out there, our old habits and our old fear will naturally want to put on all of the old armour again. 

Here are a few thoughts for you to ponder, as you embrace a moment of stillness:

  • Silence is the language of the soul.
  • In the quietude of the heart, wisdom resides.
  • Embrace the journey inward with curiosity and compassion.
  • Let go of the need to be perfect; simply be present.

Have patience with this process but know that the more you spend time going within, practising being yourself, the less you’ll need to reach for all the old armour on your journey ahead.

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday.

– pierre –

Today’s LIVE meditation is: Finding silence.