When I intentionally develop a practice of mandatory
 stillness and silence in my week, I find
myself more centered and calm in the face
of challenges the rest of the time.

” 'None of us can force revelations into happening, but we can prepare a receptive consciousness for them.’ As the sage answered the frustrated student who questioned why he should practice disciplines if they wouldn’t make him enlightened, ‘So you will be awake when enlightenment comes.’ ” -- Gloria Karpinski, Barefoot on Holy Ground

For the last month or so, each time I sit in silence, I get the message that I need to let go and empty myself out. Every year, I spend the month of January developing my new year’s resolutions and begin implementing them in February. I reflect on the year before, look at the different areas of my life, and see what I would like to manifest. But now, I realize I need to make clearing space an integral part of the process. I can’t manifest if there’s not room for what I create! So I’ve been really trying to see what I can release.

 Then I heard a sermon about how to live our lives, if we relinquish our fears.  Could I release my own fears? How much space would it clear up to let go of that? Since beginning to think about this, I’m finding the results to be.. well... the opposite of a Catch 22. How about a Release 22? Seems that recognizing and releasing my fears has eased them, but, also, decreasing my stress by eliminating tasks from my workload has created less tension in my day to day, and has left me less fearful at night. What does clarity and focus in my day have to do with my fears at night? As it turns out, everything! When I release myself from burdens and stress, when I clear my schedule a little, I am able to be mindful in my activities, thus appreciating the moments of life. But, even more importantly, when I intentionally develop a practice of mandatory stillness and silence in my week, I find myself more centered and calm in the face of challenges the rest of the time.

DAWN SMITH-CAMACHO  In 2001, Dawn developed Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy--J.U.i.C.E., a hip hop focused community center. Dawn’s website Spiritlist.com --a job, opportunities, and services portal for SO CA passionate about organics, well-being, spirituality, and the earth. Dawn can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it