September 25, 2026
Filed under: General
The first thing people often say when I tell them I have returned from my 5(+) day meditation retreat is… “I couldn’t do that”, “I can’t clear my mind”, “Go without my phone/technology for 5 days…impossible!” Well, I’m here to say:
- It’s possible
- The point isn’t to completely clear your mind
- And I bet you can do it!
While I have been to some other retreats, I have begun an annual ritual of going to Spiritrock meditation retreat in Northern California. It’s a beautiful and quiet place, with amazing food, and caring people supporting your journey. While Buddhist based, it’s not super heavy on Buddhism depending on the retreat you select.
You may wonder, what do you do with NO meetings, phones, and talking for 5 days? Nothing and everything. The point is to get still (see Resources to hear from Ryan Holiday on “Stillness Speaks” and the Stoics view and others on the importance of stillness in our lives). We have a rigorous routine- this is not a spa retreat. The day begins at 5:30am, we begin sitting at 6am and then rotate throughout the day between sitting/walking/working/eating/moving meditation (light yoga that makes it easier to sit). The day ends at 9:30pm and you start again the next day. Some “sits” are “loud” in your head, some are beautifully spaciously quiet. I was sitting in a room with 99 other people and at times, you could hear a pin drop. We have talks (the teachers talk to us, we listen), and 2 small group sessions in case you are freaking out/need support/have questions.
Some days and hours are easier than others. Emotions come up, thoughts come up- my mind was especially “busy” with business thoughts. The goal is to just let them go, not emotionally attach, let go of the noise. Notice what feelings arise and how you react. In general, be more awake, aware, clear, and less emotionally charged. That’s where peace comes in.
Today, there is a lot of “noise” in our world. There is too much information, too much stimulation, and honestly, too much anger & emotion for things that aren’t TRULY important or maybe even true. In an effort to navigate these days with grace, kindness and intentional action, retreats and a meditation/stillness practice can help. It’s called “practice” because it’s a journey. It doesn’t take much, even 5-15 minutes/day on a consistent basis, to see the benefits. In our Resources section, look for some apps and books that might help you consider adding a stilling practice into your life.
What I notice is things like…how beautiful it is today, I’m less reactive to news and the financial markets, how someone is trying to be kind to me & how much harder their life might be than mine. I know that I have some “first world” problems and my own “sufferings” as the Buddha would call it, and I also have much to be grateful for, including all the people like you who are reading this very article. We have a great team, terrific and grateful clients, great partners, excellent business support, and a beautiful office. And there’s my personal life…a loving & supportive husband, my wonderful sons and now a future daughter-in-law, a loving mom & sister-in-law, a comfortable home, freedom to travel and spend time in Sun Valley each winter, and much more. When my heart is open, the world looks brighter, I’m more patient, kind and supportive. The “noise” out there is less important, I can focus on what REALLY is important, what people are really saying, and where I can positively impact the world (part of our Omega mission). It’s not for everyone, but even a little stillness each day, might make things clearer and easier for you.
Enjoy the Fall,
lisa