"(Tintype photography) slowed me down, it made me more present.”
~ CARLA RODRIQUEZ
In the video, Carla's sister, Patty (sp?), describes the process she needs to undergo in order to be photographed, “You have to hold so still!”
The willingness to be present in difficult conversations is key. It enables us to pay close attention, to listen deeply and truly hear what is being shared. How might practicing stillness and becoming attentive and present to what is happening within us as we listen deeply affect our ability to stay present when an interaction becomes difficult?
This is what we invite you into with this exercise. Listen to the guided meditation and contemplate (journal answers to) the following:
ACTIVITY - Practicing Stillness
To capture an image that can be successfully processed as a tintype, subjects have to sit very still. To help you practice the art of stillness, we invite you to listen to the guided meditation below.
After listening to the meditation, take time to journal based on the prompts below.
- What is your relationship with stillness?
- As you listened to the meditation, how did it feel to be still? Did it influence your ability to focus your attention?
- Were you surprised by what you heard when you listened deeply?
- How does stillness open up your ability to notice?
- How might you imagine using stillness as a tool for becoming more present?
- Having a regular practice of stillness – taking time each day to sit in silence – allows us to hone this level of attention. What might become available to you if you took 10 minutes each day to sit in stillness and focus on your breathing?
Take it further...
Sit in stillness everyday for 10 minutes, just noticing what you hear at different levels like we did in the guided meditation. After a week, what do you notice about you listen, how you hear, how you direct your attention to what you observe as you move throughout your day? How is this different from the first time you listened to the meditation?
Invite a friend to listen to the meditation and complete the reflections above. Have a conversation about stillness and how you both imagine a regular practice might support your ability to have a hard conversation.
