How can we practice solitude and silence?

Hi friends,

We weren’t able to get through all the questions asked for our live event on the topic,“how can we form a wellness plan?”

But these questions are really interesting! Here’s one:

I’m interested in learning more about the practice of solitude and silence. I have a difficult time making decisions/choices sometimes and creepily find myself overthinking! It’s not paralyzing but it can become time consuming and inefficient!

I see at least three follow-up questions:

  1. Do you practice solitude and silence? What is a good way to get started?

  2. Do you avoid this practice? If so, what are the barriers you experience?

  3. How do you avoid overthinking decisions?

I look forward to learning from our global community!

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That was a great topic for the start of the new year! I found the strategy of making goals under the different categories of care of our mind, heart soul and body simplifies the process. It may help with overthinking and making a few small attainable goals at a time in each category. I also loved his emphasis on doing this not as self-help but through prayer and submission to Christ.

Jesus spent time in solitude and prayer, and so definitely there is a need for that in our walk. Silence in prayer instead of continually speaking helps with being ministered by God’s word and see areas where the truth can be applied in my life. One practice that has helped is to put some limits to news and social media consumption. All of the information if not careful only serves to bring me emotionally down rather than make useful changes.

I think by nature some of us may overthink more than others and some are rather quick at making decisions. If we know we are on one of those extremes in making decisions, we may probably need to think about the root of that behavior and tweek appropriately. Making goals, envisioning the benefits and discussing with someone not like us may be helpful in taming the excessive caution or the excessive risk taking in decisions and see our blindspots.

While planning is great, it just seems sometimes we may need to scrap all our plans and seize opportunity when it knocks. I think the key is wellness of our whole being by the power of Christ to handle whatever comes our way.

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