Shhhhhh…Be Quiet!

“It’s 7:17 a.m. in the morning. I didn’t get a good night’s rest.  I feel tired but can’t go back to sleep. When I get off of work I can’t forget to send over those interview questions. FOCUS!  I wonder what events I’ll get to cover this week? That guy was cute the other day, wonder if he’s single? I need to co-wash my hair. Okay, okay FOCUS! Mmmmm that Cranberry & Citrus candle smells so delicious. Ooops! I need to call my mother back. FOCUS, Ellisa. You know what… that’s it!”

I slightly opened my eyes and glanced at my Blackberry, which was set on a 15-minute timer. As I laid on my yoga mat in Dead Man’s Pose, I felt like the brown skinned, natural hair version of the character Julia Roberts played in Eat, Pray Love. My goal of laying there was not to have a mental note of my tasks for the day or even make requests to the Creator…my goal was to simply LISTEN.

I’m slowly learning to conquer this time management challenge of mine but it feels like my to-do list is never ending…I’m always off schedule. Even when I’m supposed to be winding down at the end of the day through prayers of thankfulness and requests, I schedule time to communicate with the Creator. I now realize that communication not only consists of talking but also listening as well. I’ll never receive the answers to my questions if I’m always talking over the responses or simply “too busy” to pay attention.

I’m a full believer in the fact that the answers we’re searching for in life are within us. All we have to do is pause and allow the answer to show itself. I’ve always struggled with the task of learning to be silent and still. Sometimes it’s a fear of what’s going to be revealed in those moments of silence. Dumping out your thoughts, removing the clutter in your mind and simply tapping into your own power is vital for growth. This comes easier for some but if you’re anything like me, be patient with yourself and remember: practice makes perfect!

Miracles & Blessings,

Ellisa Oyewo