“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” -Hermann Hesse
Before I started this site, I had a different blog where I frequently posted uplifting videos. I quickly learned that the average web reader will devote one to two minutes before deciding that a video drags on. It’s a consequence of the rapidly moving digital era: our attention spans have decreased.
And we tend to get desensitized to concepts fairly quickly. Perhaps it’s because very little feels fresh in an information-overloaded online world, where there are millions of inspiring quotes, beautiful images, and poignant videos to enjoy.
When something is sticky–the term internet marketers use describe a page that people look at for longer than average–there’s often a highly strategic, psychologically motivated plan that keeps us enthralled and engaging. There are things that captivate and touch us–and they oftentimes go viral. But they may be videos we watch half-way through before sharing. Or blog posts we briefly scan and then Stumble.
That’s not to say we always hop from content to content with all the focus of an overstimulated goldfish. It’s just that, on the whole, as an audience, we’re hard to captivate. There’s a lot happening around us, online and off, and a lot competing for our attention.
I thought about all this today, after watching a time lapse video I found linked on Twitter. Shot in San Francisco, it shows hundreds of hours of footage in just under 5 minutes. And it’s beautiful. It’s a condensed slice of everything we might miss, when we’re caught up on our heads, or multitasking, or receiving various stimuli with multiple senses simultaneously.
Only two minutes in and I was already tempted to do something else. Then I realized the irony.
Life moves quickly around us. There will always be something else to see and do. There will always be something else that pops up and threatens to scatter our focus. We can task the outside world with being sticky enough to engage us. Or we can choose to find serenity and focus, sitting smack dab in the middle of the chaos.
Life is beauty in motion, but we can only appreciate it one tiny piece at a time, and only if we’re willing to find stillness within.
The City from WTK Photography on Vimeo.
Email subscribers, click through to view the video!
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
- Web |
- More Posts
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
I’m always rushing from one task to another…so the only time when I can appreciate “stillness” is when I’m in the car listening to my fave CD or local radio station! Life is often a rush… we need to continuously remind ourselves to appreciate the little moments.
Hi Lori — I really appreciate this post…and you! You’re one of the few people out here I really look up to. And to hear of your concerns with losing our priorities and balance, while still managing to use these often sped-up, dumbed-down media to share what we have to offer, reassures me that it can be done. Thanks for all the wonderful work you do!
this is an important issue, that we usually don’t think about… let alone do something about.
…to find stillness within.
Wow, the story of my life, Lori. The older I get, the more aware I am of the importance of the little things. For ex., when I embarked on my latest spiritual journey, I started identifying every bird I saw, and made a point to learn its call. As a result, not only am I totally infatuated with birds today, I also love identifying trees as well! It keeps me “on the beam” so to speak. Great post, Thanks
Great post here.
It’s so tempting to run around like chickens with our heads cut off doing little but moving from one task to another. But that such a bad way to live. I think once the experience that inner stillness that you’re talking of – even just once – we eventually have to move towards it. Nothing else will suffice.
Soooo true, Lori! Thanks for sharing this post because it’s something I am working on daily and intentionally. Little moments of stillness throughout the day really help us balance. Until we have to rush off and do 1 more things that turns into 8 things in 2 minutes… 🙂
Nice post, just what I needed to hear. Good video rec, too. I actually felt my brain slow down while watching. And I may just paint that quote on my wall as a huge reminder 😉
Insightful and profound. Something I will always try to remember .. “Life is beauty in motion, but we can only appreciate it one tiny piece at a time, and only if we’re willing to find stillness within.”
And Thank You.
This is exactly what i want to learn,implement and master.
Thanks so much, Jeffrey. What a wonderful compliment!
That’s wonderful, Cooper. I always feel much more peaceful and centered when I get out into nature.
Thanks Fred. I think you’re absolutely right–once you know the peace and joy of that stillness, it becomes an imperative to nurture it.
You’re most welcome, Molly. I work on this, as well. It’s ironic that not doing can take effort–but it does!
Yes, I felt the same thing! It really slowed down my thinking. I’ve actually re-watched this quite a few times. I find the music really soothing, as well.
You are most welcome. =)
It’s interesting, because I used to get really frustrated sitting in traffic, but then I realized there’s something freeing about having nothing to do but wait. If we can give into it, it can actually be a really enjoyable sense of release.
I just read the e-book: “Tiny Wisdom on Mindfulness” and loved it! Thank you for writing it. I was taken by a lot of it, but especially resonated with our propensity for hurrying to make the traffic light–whether in a car or on foot. That made me smile with recognition! I love uncovering little habits that can be interrupted or changed all together to create more peace and tranquility in my day. (Except for the days I don’t love seeing those pesky habits…:-)
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love doing that as well. The little things truly do make a huge difference!