The Power of Stopping.

Self-help books have made it to best-seller lists for one reason.  People are screwed-up.  

Although not all people in need of help get to read such books, there are actually those who feel that such books become their saviors.

I say, whatever works.

If it helps you become a better person, then all power to you.

Power.  

Many self-help books speak of "power," your inner power, the power of now, the power of time, the power of this and that...  In general, they're mostly about finding that power within oneself that'll let you be "the best that you can be"; for you to find your true self, your peace, and your purpose.  We are very curious beings always wanting to find our true self, true purpose, true love...

That be the case, if I had a power to write about, it would be... the power of shutting the hell up.  In other words, the power of simply just stopping.

When was the last time you actually just STOPPED?

(this is the part where you really try recalling the last time you did. -- Example: took a quiet mental break from a rowdy gathering, stopped and observed your space and existence in the whole scene and wondered 'what am i doing?'?  Zoned-off in the middle of traffic and smelled the beach?  Stared at space for a time and thought of random laughing memories made in the sunshine?)

ah, you feel a sincere fuzzy smile somewhere between the alcohol and smoke.

STOP.

JUST STOP.

whatever it is, leave it for a while.

feel your senses.  what do you smell?  what do you smell when you close your eyes?  what do you see?  what do you feel?  hear? 

Where are you?

STOP.

feel.  listen.

and just be.  simply feel your existence and nothing else.

fall in love with the beat of your heart.

imagine the oxygen entering your lungs and traveling all throughout your veins to give you life and actually keep you doing whatever craziness you think of.

lose yourself in your breath.

STOP.

inhale.  exhale.

Just STOP.

WHERE ARE YOU???

feel. listen.  think.  stop thinking.

where you are physically is nothing compared to where your imagination and idealism can take you right now.

STOP.

Everything else... the noise, the loudness, the hustle and the bustle of the city, your firends' jokes, your stupid jokes... are all distractions to finding your peace.

That is, assuming you do want peace.

You do don't you?  ...don't you?

Why wouldn't you?

.

STOP.  give it a try.  

Actually stop all the shit and shut the hell up.

Okay.  So you're lost.  We get lost even at moments of clarity sometimes.  Who hasn't felt lost, really?   Most of us probably still are and some of us just die lost.  The problem is sometimes, we say we feel lost and want to find ourselves, and yet we throw ourselves into situations where the basic function of hearing - each other, yourself, and your inner self - is almost impossible!  How then will you find yourself and your way when you can't even hear your inner self even if it screamed and pulled you from inside out?  And you go continue this, everyday, every night, keeping yourself around the loudness and the fun just to feel not lonely, to feel that you matter, and to avoid that melancholic breeze sweeping through your thoughts everytime it's quiet.

Your high though, only lasts for how long your fun rendezvous does.  Sure, give yourself those moments.  Give yourself those hours of drunken bliss.  But I know you know... YOU know that you know... you're not finding your true self and purpose here... you're only just being in a different place.

For at the end of the day, it's still going to be quiet, and you are left to face the person you live in.

and you stop.  you stare.  you try and see if it's who you really want to be.  all your dreams, your hopes, your new year's resolutions... and you say, "I'll get there."

"When?  I don't know."

The answer, the way, just like the power, is, duh, within us.  The power is real, you know.  Yeah, I know you know.

Sometimes we just waste it whether we intend to or not.  

Just remember, that each ounce of energy we let out, is an ounce of ourselves that we lose forever.   

So I say, choose wisely you exert your energy on.  The day will come when our youth will no longer bail us out.  Frankly, don't wait for that day to come.

So stop.

STOP.

Let's all stop.

.

Oh just give the quiet a chance and hold you.  Don't be scared.

STOP.

and you know the rest --

LOOK,

and LISTEN.

Although, I think it should be stop, LISTEN, look... ...and FIND. 

But I'm messing up a whole different system of practice here.

Seriously though, give it a chance.   [[STOP]]   ~Fall in love with the beat of your heart.~   

The power of stopping does help.

Peace be with you.  Peace be with us all.