Stillness Is the Weapon: How to Think Like a Warrior in a Distracted World.

The Noise is Killing You

These days, the world is filled with noises and distractions. A new notification, a tragedy on the news, someone telling you why you should be afraid, or why you should be concerned. Everything on your screen is shouting at you. “Buy this!” “Do that!” “Watch me!”

When was the last time you really sat down in silence and didn’t immediately grab your phone? Do you find yourself constantly scrolling before bed? Do you constantly feel like you should do something?

It feels like if we’re not doing something, we’re being lazy. But that’s not exactly true. There is doing nothing, then there is being still. But what’s the difference?

One of the greatest weapons we have in our modern age isn’t taking action. A weapon we as warriors have, is stillness, disciplined stillness.

Stillness as a Warrior Virtue

Ancient warriors of our past, the Roman Legionaries, the Samurai, and the Knights. What they all had in common was discipline, practiced restraint, and keeping a cool head in the midst of battle.

Marcus Aurelius, on of the most famous Roman Emperors, was a philosopher of Stoicism. Marcus Aurelius understood what it meant to be still. He would always take some time of his day to meditate and reflect on himself.

If you seek tranquility, do less

– Marcus Aurelius

Stillness isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about allowing your mind to become calm and tranquil. You’re not substituting action for inaction. You just have to know when to act. When your mind is calm, that’s when you strike!

The War You’re Actually Fighting

For many of us, we’ve been so far removed from war. Your average man finds themselves on a whole new battlefield. Constant notifications, moral and social outrage, and a constant stream of data to our brains that leaves us overstimulated.

What are the dangers of this really? Well, how many men find themselves questioning their place in the world, struggling to find an answer we all yearn for… who am I? How many of us have lost the mental stamina to get through a full day and not being mentally and emotionally exhausted?

There’s an article from The Economic Times that points out how the onslaught of social media, endless notifications, and even multi tasking is breaking down our attention spans and how one might be able to train their attention.

We are constantly being distracted, the whole world is shouting for your attention. The average man isn’t waging war against a tyrant. Our Rebellion now is against the media.

What Stoicism Teaches Us About Stillness

Stoicism is an ancient philosophy. It teaches us to differentiate between what we CAN control, vs what we CAN’T control. The only thing we can truly control is our thoughts and actions. The world rages around us, many of it out of our control. It’s up to us to decide how to react to it.

I’m not asking you to ignore the world around you. Being still isn’t doing nothing. To be still is being calm, serene, then acting with purpose and intent. You are the one who should decide how you feel and act. Don’t surrender your free will to the world around you. That is Stoicism.

Marcus Aurelius is the first name that comes to mind when stoicism is brought up. He would start each day journaling, writing about his reflections on his values while anticipating the challenges his day might present.

Epictetus, a Greek philosopher on Stoicism teaches us that we have to master ourselves to be free. That we cannot let the world around us rule our thoughts and emotions.

Seneca, a Roman philosopher, or Seneca The Younger teaches that taking time for leisure was not a luxury but a necessity. Action is good, but leisure is needed to decompress and reflect on oneself.

Building Stillness into Your Life (Step by Step)

How about we start out small? Do these three things every day to train your mind.

• When you wake up, give yourself five minutes of deliberate silence before touching your phone
• Have one meal a day where you eat without any devices.
• Go for a short walk (or a long walk) without listening to music or podcasts.

Next, when you find yourself distracted by your phone, scrolling endlessly. Ask yourself three questions.

• What am I avoiding right now?
• What information is just noise and what is important?
• How should I choose to respond?

Being still takes practice. But with practice, you’ll find yourself facing the world a bit easier.

The Benefits of Practicing Stillness

What is the point of all this? How does this help you? That’s a fair question. I believe you’ll find the benefits to stillness to be worth the effort.

The first benefit is being able to think clearly, even when pressured or overwhelmed. I’m sure most of us can remember feeling our minds racing in a panic to figure what to do next. With stillness, you can avoid those overwhelming moments.

The second benefit is gaining a better control of your emotions. If you suffered from anger issues, anxiety, or all sorts of emotional problems. Stillness will help you control your emotions, rather than letting them control you. Such control will also allow you to respond to emotional situations both quicker and on your terms.

A third benefit of stillness is gaining a more grounded sense of identity. Being more secure in knowing who you are, rather than defining yourself by the world around you.

The last benefit I share with you today is something that helped me a lot when I was younger. That stillness will help you be a leader, not a follower or someone who only reacts to the world.

Stillness as Your Tactical Advantage

We are warriors. Action is your sword and stillness is your shield. Use it to block emotional triggers. Frame your mind with focus, a clear picture, and purpose. Then act.

The majority of people are distracted by the world around us. Incorporating stillness into your life will set you apart in whatever endeavor you desire. Where others are distracted, you move forward with intention.

You do not win by doing more, you win by doing less with full control.

Reclaim Your Weapon

Remember, stillness isn’t passiveness or inaction. It is preparation, it is your own power, it is your presence.

If you take away one throng from this, it is that you are not withdrawing from the world. You aren’t hiding. You are merely rising above the noise.

So please, practice one act of stillness today. Just one step. Then you can build your foundation from there. I believe in you.