Stillness, Silence and the Strength to Keep Going
How embracing quiet moments can build a BRAVE mindset
In a world that moves ever faster, rewards the bravado and glorifies the constant hustle we’re often encouraged to keep doing, producing and immediately responding. But what if you can find some of the most growth when we stopping the relentless push forward and slow down or pause?
In the BRAVE Performance Method an approach built on Belief, Resilience, Adaptability, Vision, and Energy I often talk about action. And indeed action is important and fuels growth and achievement, what’s often overlooked is the power of non-action. By this I mean the quiet, still moments where we allow insight to flourish, emotions to settle and clarity to return. When we explore stillness, silence, and even boredom we find that embracing these moments can elevate your performance and wellbeing.
Stillness: A Space to Reconnect
Stillness is more than the absence of movement. It’s a deliberate choice to stop, breathe and listen inward. The purpose of these moments of stillness is create space to reconnect with our vision and the ‘why’ behind what we do. This reconnection allows for a course correction and a pause when you feel you are being led by stress or urgency rather than intention.
Stillness is where you stop spending energy and allow it to be replenished. It gives the nervous system a break from being in a state of constant arousal. With research showing this type of break can improve focus and executive function. In 2014 researchers found that mind-wandering during quiet rest periods helps consolidate memories, supports creativity and fosters self-generated insights (Immordino-Yang et al., 2014). In other words, our brain is still working but in the background is where breakthroughs often emerge.
Silence: Building Resilience in a Loud World
Silence can feel uncomfortable at first but the discomfort is a form of training. In silence, we can sit with our thoughts and emotions away distraction. We listen to our inner dialogues which can mean we are confronting fears, doubts and stresses.
But when we choose to confront rather than avoid we choose to build resilience from it.
By taking time to learn to be at peace with silence we often stop reacting to external stressors. And instead gain the ability to respond with more intention, rather than react through impulse. In the BRAVE method, resilience isn’t just bouncing back from adversity, it’s about staying grounded when in the midst of a storm. Embracing silence helps you locate this grounded state.
Boredom: A Hidden Gateway to Adaptability
It can seem odd to suggest boredom is beneficial. After all it’s often associated with laziness or stagnation. But using boredom to our benefit is a fertile ground for adaptability.
When we’re bored our minds begin searching for novelty. We reflect and imagine. We problem solve. In a modern culture designed to stimulate and entertain us at every second tolerating boredom becomes an act of resilience and creates a space for discovery. It’s a place where we are capable of sitting in discomfort without needing to escape it.
This is adaptability at work and the ability to stay grounded when things aren’t exciting or certain. When we are used to boredom we are more likely to keep going when motivation dips. And finally this is where creativity strives because when your brain wanders, it makes new connections and forms new ideas.
Letting the Mind Wander: The Key to Deep Insight
Allowing time for mental drift through the process of still walks, time in nature, quiet journaling or simply sitting in silence activates the brains default mode network. A network essential for the process of introspection, emotional understanding and self-connection.
When you give your mind the freedom to wander, you aren’t wasting time. You’re planting the seeds of belief in yourself and your goals and giving you the capacity to adapt.
The BRAVE Performance Method in Stillness
Here’s how stillness, silence, and boredom align with the BRAVE Performance method:
Belief: Created in the quiet moments where self-trust and reflection grow.
Resilience: Strengthened by the capacity to stay still with discomfort and return with perspective.
Adaptability: Practiced when we sit in boredom and wait for the right next move.
Vision: Clarified when distractions fade and the real “why” becomes visible.
Energy: Recharged by rest, silence, and moments without demand.
Practical Ways to Embrace Stillness
Schedule 5–10 minutes to sit in stillness daily. No phone, no inputs, just pause.
Take a walk without music or a podcast. Leave your headphones at home and let your mind drift.
Journal in silence. Create a habit that lets whatever is in your head find its way onto a page.
Let yourself be bored. Resist the urge to scroll or distract. Trust that your brain is working in the background.
The Quiet Path to Progress
When you embrace stillness you are choosing to do what matters most in the moment. In the pause, you build the foundation for powerful actions to follow. In the silence, you find your voice. And in the boredom, you unlock the next evolution of your mindset.
You don’t need to hustle every hour to be BRAVE. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is stop be and be still.
Immordino-Yang, M. H., Christodoulou, J. A., & Singh, V. (2014). Rest is not idleness: Implications of the brain’s default mode for human development and education. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00001
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