Chapter 1: The Duality of Stillness

Stillness — the absence of sound or movement — is a concept I find fascinating. In theory, I cherish it. Picture me standing atop a mountain, surrounded by nature, devoid of human presence; that’s when I feel most centered. I prefer solitary hikes over crowded concerts, and as a parent of young children, the thought of quietude sounds blissful. Yet, the notion of immobility is more complex. I have a propensity for movement; my parents often say I've been restless since birth. When I'm not progressing in my personal or professional life, it feels disconcerting. This urge for action often serves me well, but it clashes with the inevitable lulls that come with running a business.

Operating a business resembles a rollercoaster ride, with frenetic weeks followed by calm ones. You might find yourself racing against deadlines, only to later discover a nearly empty inbox. While activity typically resumes, many freelancers I know find these periods of stillness challenging.

Recently, I encountered a tweet that encapsulated this struggle perfectly:

Many of my clients, as well as myself, have their own ways of sidestepping stillness. For instance, Jean took two weeks off but found it hard to truly relax. Her anxiety surged at the thought of a blank day, prompting her to deep clean her home, reorganize her workspace, keep an eye on her email, scroll through social media, plan a dinner party, and even draft a book proposal.

Emil learned to expect slow Decembers after five years in business. However, the dread that accompanied his reduced workload always took him by surprise. Despite knowing that January would likely be busy and having planned accordingly, he became consumed by thoughts of impending failure: "This is a sign your business is failing! You'll never work again!" Instead of enjoying his quiet Decembers, he began to dread them.

Eliza had two years to save before purchasing a home. She devised a plan to set aside $500 each month, which she incorporated into her budget. Yet, she found herself endlessly browsing Zillow. When she stumbled upon her dream home, she couldn't resist the urge to buy, even though it was premature, resulting in higher interest rates and squeezed finances six months later.

Laney, a novice freelance writer, felt out of her element pitching stories to editors, despite her previous writing experience. She teamed up with a fellow freelancer to pitch ten story ideas weekly. While they accomplished that, her anxiety peaked within three days. Rather than sit with her discomfort, she bombarded editors with emails for updates, leading to frustration when she received no responses.

These business owners each evaded stillness in different ways: seeking emotional validation from others, making slightly misaligned decisions, filling downtime with activity, or numbing their anxiety through various means. I'm not suggesting they were wrong; these reactions are normal responses to anxiety-inducing situations.

At the heart of it, avoiding stillness equates to evading discomfort. Many of us lack the tools to handle discomfort, interpreting it as a sign of failure. This is a common human experience — discomfort is inherently unpleasant! However, it's also a fundamental aspect of life and business. When confronted with silence, we often encounter our deepest fears and anxieties.

In our busyness, we often seek to distract ourselves from what lies beneath. Stillness, however, challenges these coping mechanisms, forcing us to confront our thoughts: "What am I doing? How will this work? Why did I think this was a good idea?"

As Cory wisely stated in a meme: "Show me how you avoid stillness through coping mechanisms, and I'll reveal the patterns that govern your life." He’s right; our avoidance strategies impede our ability to reach our goals.

While I wish I could offer an easy solution, the truth is that this discussion revolves around embracing discomfort. My suggestion is to familiarize ourselves with unease and utilize moments of stillness to gain clarity on what hinders our progress.

In stillness, profound insights emerge. It’s essential for creative growth, self-soothing, and grounding ourselves in the present moment. Many people witness remarkable shifts in their lives and businesses after taking a complete break from action. A hiatus provides the necessary distance to make transformative decisions. If we resist opting for stillness, our bodies often enforce it through illness.

Thus, if stillness is essential — both for our well-being and our businesses — we must learn to tolerate the anxiety that accompanies it. This is what it means to expand our window of tolerance. Have you noticed the trend of cold plunging? Those who engage in it learn to physically endure discomfort. While you need not jump into frigid water to cultivate tolerance, there’s merit in the idea: The more you confront discomfort, the less daunting it becomes.

This is the work: Allow yourself to be still for five minutes. Embrace the discomfort that arises. Observe your thoughts without getting too attached (Julia Cameron, in "The Artist's Way," refers to these as "blurts"). Afterward, resume your activities. Each time you choose stillness, aim for a longer duration. Eventually, you might find yourself able to remain still for an hour, a day, or even a week.

In stillness, we uncover insight, peace, and the opportunity for self-reflection. It’s a space for exploration and self-compassion. Often, the cave we dread entering holds the treasure we seek.

Curious about my journey? I’m a writer and business coach focused on helping freelance creatives thrive, based in Central Oregon. Balancing part-time work with parenting allows me to prioritize quality time with my children. Lately, my passion lies in non-linear business development and guiding individuals toward successful enterprises that honor their human needs first.

This excerpt is part of my complimentary newsletter, Mindset Mastery. Explore my coaching services, follow me on Twitter and Instagram, or download my free business planning workbook tailored for creatives!

Chapter 2: Confronting the Power of Stillness

In the exploration of stillness, we encounter profound insights.

The first video, Confronting Stillness: The Life and Works of Morton Feldman, delves into the significance of embracing stillness in our creative processes, drawing parallels to Feldman’s unique musical compositions and their relationship with silence.

Chapter 3: The Astonishing Sounds of Creativity

Stillness not only fosters insight but also creativity.

The second video, Review: The Astonishing Sounds of Morton Feldman, examines how stillness plays a crucial role in unlocking new creative potentials, reflecting on Feldman’s innovative soundscapes and their impact on listeners.