Discovering Calm Through Shizen
Gentle rhythms. By embracing Shizen, we learn that wellness is not about doing more; it’s about allowing more.
I stumbled across a Japanese word recently that stopped me in my tracks: Shizen. It means “naturalness” or “being in harmony with the flow of life.” The funny thing is, I realized I’ve been searching for this idea without even knowing it had a name.
When I think about Shizen, I picture myself in those rare moments when everything feels just right, sitting outside with a cup of tea, watching the sunlight shift through the trees, and letting the water rush over the stones while I breathe a little more slowly. My level of calmness is not present because I chased it; it is visible because I finally allowed it.
🌊 What Shizen Reminds Us
Here’s what clicked for me: water doesn’t fight with rocks. It just flows around them. That image alone has helped me on days when I feel stuck. Calmness isn’t about controlling every detail; it’s about letting life move and finding your place in the rhythm.
Let’s talk about simplicity. That’s another lesson. Peace doesn’t always look like a perfect spa day. Sometimes it’s five minutes without my phone or stepping into my backyard barefoot.
Nature is the best teacher of all. When I pause long enough to notice it, the sound of rain, the smell of fresh soil, and the way the wind carries leaves remind me that calm is always closer than I think.
🌱 A Little Shizen Practice
Here’s something small you can try:
Step outside (or sit by a window if that’s easier).
Pick one thing in nature to focus on, maybe the sound of a bird, the way light hits a branch, or clouds drifting by.
Match your breathing to that rhythm for a few moments.
No timer. No rules. Just being. That’s Shizen.
I’ll be honest, I often need reminders like this. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of to-do lists and deadlines. But whenever I remember this word, it feels like an invitation to exhale.
✨ Please remember that calmness doesn’t have to be something we build from scratch. It’s already here, waiting for us to notice it.
At SILWELL-C, that’s what we believe wellness is all about: allowing space, flow, and a natural return to balance.
