A Silent Place in Turbulent Times
- Phyllis Smith - Rejuvecise.com
- Feb 9
- 4 min read
2026 has been quite a year so far.
So much turmoil permeates our TV, social media feeds, communities, and everyday conversations. It feels like it’s everywhere. These environmental factors invade our thoughts and emotions, and even though most of it is out of our control, it’s so easy to get caught up in it all.
And when I do, it takes a toll.
For me, it shows up as loss of sleep… anger… sadness… fear… and a whole mix of emotions that sometimes trigger old trauma. My thoughts get stuck in a loop, and before I know it, I’m being pulled into what feels like an emotional abyss.
Maybe you know that feeling too.
Thankfully, through my mindfulness practices—meditation, yoga, and conscious breathing—I’ve learned how to step back and notice what’s happening inside me. I’ve learned how to use these tools to gently guide myself back to a more stable, peaceful state of mind.
I like to think of that place as “coming home.”
Because the truth is, that stable mind lives in all of us. We’re born with it. It’s part of who we are.
In the middle of turbulent times, I keep coming back to that silent place Michael Singer calls “The Silent One.” That quiet, steady presence beneath all the noise. The place where serenity naturally lives.
This idea is woven into my teachings around S.E.L.F.
Stability (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual),
Environment,
Love,
and Friendship.
These, in my experience, are the foundations for living with more serenity. Not perfection. Not pretending everything is fine. But learning how to return to ourselves again and again.
Recently, one of my yoga students—who is going through a difficult divorce—reminded me of something her therapist shared with her: the 90/10 rule.
It goes like this…
Only about 10% of life is made up of what actually happens to us—events, situations, circumstances beyond our control.
The other 90%?
That’s how we respond.
Our thoughts.
Our interpretations.
Our emotional reactions.
The stories we tell ourselves.
In other words, most of us spend an enormous amount of time and energy focusing on that uncomfortable 10%—replaying it in our minds, worrying about it, stressing over it—even though it’s a very small part of our day.
Sound familiar?
So as we begin exploring the four cornerstones of serenity together, I’d like to invite you to start with one gentle area of reflection: your environment.
Take a moment and ask yourself…
What are you letting in that is hurting you more than helping?
When you’re scrolling, what images or videos make you stop?
Who—now or in the past—has filled you with self-doubt or judgment?
What are you watching on TV or listening to on the radio?
What does your personal or work space look like—cluttered, calm, organized, overwhelming?
And as you think about these questions, notice how they feel in your body.
Do you feel drained?
Tense?
Heavy?
Restless?
What parts of your environment do you actually have control over?
What small changes might support more peace and clarity?
Awareness is always the first step toward serenity.
And once you’ve reflected a bit, I’d love to share a simple mindfulness practice you can return to anytime you feel scattered, overwhelmed, or disconnected.
You can do this in just a few minutes...
Sit up tall.(If you’re new to meditation, sitting in a chair or against a wall for support is wonderful.)
Close your eyes, or take a soft gaze toward the floor.
Rest your hands on your thighs, palms up or down.Let your shoulders soften away from your ears.
Take three slow, cleansing breaths, filling your lungs.With each exhale, invite a little more relaxation.
Then find your natural breath.
Bring your attention to the parts of your body that are supported—
your feet on the floor,
your body on the chair,
your hands on your legs,
your back supported.
As your mind wanders—and it will—don’t fight it.
Don’t judge it.
Simply notice.
Allow the thoughts and feelings to be there without engaging with them. It’s your gentle observation that begins to loosen their grip.
Then, lovingly return home to your breath.
Your breath is your bridge back to “The Silent One.”
Back to serenity.
Back to yourself.
Try to be consistent with this practice.
Training the mind to work for you instead of against you takes time. Be patient. Be kind to yourself. There’s no “perfect” meditation.
Even on days when your mind feels busy, just pausing to be still plants seeds of peace.
I know for me, this practice has made me less reactive, more joyful, and more loving—in my relationships and with myself.
And just to be clear…
Finding serenity doesn’t mean we ignore what’s happening in the world. It doesn’t mean we put our heads in the sand when injustice or suffering is present.
It means we choose not to be consumed by it.
We may not control how others behave, but we can learn to manage our response.
We can protect our energy.
We can nurture our spirit.
We can keep our hearts open without burning out.
So we can keep living.
Keep loving.
Keep growing.
In this limited and precious time we have on earth, serenity isn’t a luxury.
It’s a practice.
And it’s available to you—right here, right now—one breath at a time.
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Phyllis Smith is the Founder/CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor and Serenity Coach in the Dallas, Texas area. Her mission is to help people cultivate clarity, stability, and inner leadership through mind-body practices for a better world. Contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)
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