In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, finding moments of stillness can feel like an elusive dream. Yet, stillness holds immense power—a quiet strength that connects us to our inner wisdom, deepens our relationships with animals, and grounds us in the present moment.
Animals understand this intuitively, and through the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki, we can learn from their natural grace and resilience.
In this blog, we’ll explore the self-limiting beliefs that get in the way of stillness, how the Reiki precepts guide us toward stillness, how the six pillars of this method teach us to embrace it, and the profound lessons our animal companions offer in their moments of calm and challenge.
Finally, we’ll reflect on our spirit guide heron, a symbol of patience and serenity, whose message inspires us to trust in the beauty of life’s quiet flow. Let’s dive into this journey of embracing stillness together.
What Makes It So Hard to Embrace Stillness?
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. ~Buddha
When we talk about embracing stillness, what we are really talking about is the ability to embrace the present moment. To be here NOW. There are many reasons why this might be difficult, and most of these difficulties come from our own self-limiting beliefs.
A self-limiting belief is a negative thought or assumption we hold about ourselves, our abilities, or the world around us that restricts us and holds us back from achieving our goals or embracing our highest potential. Limiting beliefs are mental and emotional barriers that keep us from relaxing into stillness and can keep us from connecting effectively with the animals we want to help.
Here are some common ones. Do any of these sound familiar to you?
1. "Stillness is unproductive."
We live in a culture that often equates busyness with success, so stillness can feel like "wasting time." We find lots of time in the day to “do” things for our animals, but how much time do we remember to devote to just “being” with them? And this quiet space of being is the space where healing can most easily take place! This self-limiting belief also prevents us from recognizing that moments of rest and reflection are essential for creating trust with animals, clarity around health issues, and a powerful sense of well-being for all.
2. "I don’t have time to be still."
Our society creates a perception of constant urgency, and this can keep us stuck in a cycle of doing, leaving no room for simply being. Remember, as Kurt Vonnegut says, “I am a human being, not a human doing.” Have you ever felt burnt out or suffering from compassion fatigue because you never give yourself time to rest? This self-limiting belief also often indicates lack of balance between self-care and caring for others, so taking it on is a wonderful opportunity for healing and rebalancing.
There’s an old and wise Zen proverb that reminds us of the importance of taking time to sit still: “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”
3. "Being still means doing nothing."
Stillness is sometimes misunderstood as idleness. How many times have you felt self-conscious during an Animal Reiki session because even though the animal was responding positively to the quiet space you had created; you were worried that the animal’s caregiver would think you weren’t “doing anything”?
In truth, it is this active state of presence and awareness that we create in our quiet meditations that fosters deep healing, connection, and insight during our Animal Reiki sessions.
4. "I’m not good at being still."
Some people believe they must be naturally calm or skilled at meditation to embrace stillness. Many times over the years students have come to my classes saying, “I don’t like to sit still,” or “I hate meditating.” This belief overlooks the fact that stillness is a practice that grows with patience and commitment. We’ve got to put some effort and diligence into this in order to see the benefits.
In addition, the stillness we are cultivating is on the inside of ourselves. In the Let Animals Lead® method, we learn that meditation is a flexible practice with animals; we may find ourselves with eyes open or closed, our bodies sitting, standing or walking as we hold space with the animals we love. It’s not about our body position; it’s all about meeting animals where they are and training ourselves in the way we show up energetically for them.
5. "If I’m still, uncomfortable feelings will surface."
Avoidance of emotions like sadness, anxiety, or guilt can make stillness feel threatening. How many times have you thrown yourself into work or busy tasks when you were facing an emotional challenge, like a difficult diagnosis with your animal? This is a natural response to avoid the pain of the moment.
However, stillness, especially in the context of our Animal Reiki meditations, provides a safe space to acknowledge and process these feelings with compassion and gratitude. In the end, the only way to heal these feelings is to face them; otherwise, they remain buried and can resurface in unhealthy ways.
6. "Stillness is selfish."
This is the belief that taking time for oneself detracts from responsibilities to others, and this can prevent our ability to relax and find that quiet time to be with the animals who need us. In truth, cultivating inner peace benefits not only you, but also your animals, who will so appreciate the mindful way you are showing up for them, with a calm and inviting energy. Showing up for ourselves will actually improve our ability to show up for others!
7. "I must control everything around me to feel calm."
This belief ties stillness to external circumstances being perfect or manageable. The truth is that real stillness comes from within, regardless of external chaos or challenges. This is perhaps one of the hardest self-limiting beliefs for us to get over, because it’s always the most difficult to hold a space of peace when our animals are suffering!
Thomas S. Monson says, “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” This is where our diligence comes in, and why we emphasize a daily meditation practice in the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki. Your daily practice in mindfulness will come in handy the most when everything around you falls apart!
Now that we’ve explored some of the many self-limiting beliefs that are tied to why it’s so hard to embrace stillness in your life, let’s explore some of the many resources you have in your Animal Reiki toolbox that can help you conquer them!
How the Reiki Precepts Teach Us Stillness
The Reiki precepts are: For today only, do not anger; do not worry; be humble; be honest in your work; be compassionate to yourself and others. They invite us to let go of worry and anger, and ground us in the present moment through humility, honesty and compassion.
“For today only” encourages stillness by reminding us to take each day anew. Be here today, with your animal.
“Do not anger; do not worry” both remind us that troublesome emotions like anger pull us out of the present moment and into the past, while worry pulls us away from the present and into the future. Let go of anger and worry over your animal’s situation and just be here now, in stillness, to support them.
"Be humble" encourages quiet reflection and self-awareness, a foundation for stillness. Realize your animals are your teachers and you have something to learn from them in this difficult moment. Be still so that you can hear this lesson.
"Be compassionate to yourself and others" fosters stillness through a calm, centered approach to life's challenges. Compassion indicates a shared and sacred moment in time, as opposed to pity, which indicates separateness and imbalance of power.
As you can see, the Reiki precepts are not just a casual afterthought, they’re really meant as a guide for living a balanced life. Living the precepts helps us radiate a stillness that animals sense and respond to.
The Six Pillars of the Let Animals Lead® Method and Stillness
There are many ways the Six Pillars of the Let Animals Lead® method help us to embrace stillness. First, this method is based on meditation. Creating a daily meditation practice with your animals will help you to strengthen your inner stillness by building your spiritual muscles.
Second, the Six Pillars encourage animal agency: To learn how to trust animals to lead the healing process, we must practice patience and receptivity. The more stillness we embrace, the deeper the trust and relationship with animals can grow.
Third, the Six Pillars remind us to respect energetic boundaries. While staying mindful of our physical and mental presence and how this affects the animal in each moment, we learn to maintain a calm, grounded energetic space. Respecting and maintaining boundaries that honor animal sensitivities builds trust and also stillness.
Fourth, the Six Pillars develop a deep heart-to-heart connection: Our silent, peaceful presence makes all the difference in how much trust and openness can be created within our Animal Reiki connections.
Fifth, the Six Pillars are founded on a non-doing approach: By shifting our focus as practitioners from action to being, we are truly embracing the healing power of stillness. In fact, we are realizing and embodying the awareness that this open-hearted, compassionate presence is our greatest healing power and the biggest gift we can ever offer to another being.
Finally, the Six Pillars encourage personal growth and self-care: If we remember that it all starts with our own intention and sense of purpose, grounding and calm, then we must remember to nurture our inner stillness to support our Animal Reiki practice. This is the way to be in the best place possible when we show up for animals!
How Companion Animals Teach Us Stillness
We’re very lucky as Animal Reiki practitioners, because we are often around animals who can be our teachers in what embracing stillness looks like, and how easy it is to do!
Here are some ways that our animals model stillness for us:
Have you ever smiled and appreciated the moment while your cat or dog rested so peacefully in a sunny spot? Have you ever felt the world slow down a little while sitting with your dogs as they watch the world go by? Has time ever lost its meaning as you while away the afternoon listening to your horses munch the grass as they graze peacefully in the pasture?
These are examples of your animals embodying stillness for you, and effortlessly bringing you into their quiet world, even if just for a moment.
What about when animals aren’t in a peaceful place, but facing challenges? They can still teach us so much about stillness by inspiring us to rise to the challenge:
Have you ever noticed that if you get anxious when your animal is anxious, it only makes things worse? If you get worried and upset when your animal is ill, has it ever made them feel better? Of course not! In those very difficult moments when our animals are struggling, that’s when they need us the most to be their anchor of calm in the storm.
If we can remain calm under pressure, it will greatly enhance our healing presence. Perhaps this is the most difficult time to embrace stillness, but also the time when it will have the greatest benefit for our animals!
Lessons from Spirit Animal Heron
Letting go of limiting beliefs often requires trust—trust in yourself, in the practice, and in the animal's wisdom. Stillness nurtures this trust by helping you feel grounded and supported in the present moment. When you're anchored in trust, animals sense your authenticity and are more likely to relax and connect with you during Animal Reiki sessions.
Integrating stillness into your daily practice strengthens your ability to lead with humility, receptivity, and confidence—qualities essential to the Let Animals Lead® approach.
Let's take a moment to reflect on this with our animal teacher, the heron. Herons are known for their patience, grace, and ability to stand motionless for long periods while waiting for the perfect moment to act. This reflects a deep connection to mindfulness, presence, and inner stillness.
Heron’s Affirmation for Us: I trust the flow of life and embrace the quiet power of being.
As we reflect on Heron’s wisdom, what lessons about embracing stillness and patience have shown up in your life recently? How do you create space for stillness in your daily routine, and what does it teach you?
The Gifts that Stillness Brings
Embracing stillness isn’t just a practice—it’s a gift we give to ourselves and the animals we share our lives with. Through the Let Animals Lead® method of Animal Reiki, we discover that stillness isn’t about inactivity; it’s about presence, trust, and connection.
Whether it’s meditating with the guidance of the Reiki precepts, embodying the principles of the Six Pillars, learning from the serene grace of our animal companions, or reflecting on the quiet wisdom of spirit animals, stillness becomes a powerful force for healing and growth.
As you move forward, let Heron remind you to trust in life’s flow and embrace the quiet moments that connect you to yourself, your animals, and the world around you. Stillness is where healing transformation begins.
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