Can You Sit With Yourself? The Power of Meditation in Building Character
True character isn’t built in moments of ease but in the quiet battles within. Are you willing to sit with yourself and grow?
I used to believe that stillness was a waste of time.
That if I wasn’t constantly doing, producing, creating—I was somehow failing.
Stillness felt almost rebellious.
If I’m not busy, am I wasting my life? Am I failing to contribute?
If I'm not doing something, what am I?
Then, I remind myself: I am a human being, not a human doing.
Why, then, is it so hard to simply be?
The truth is, survival demands movement. This body, this life—it requires action.
But beyond that, we live in a world that glorifies busyness.
Productivity is worn like a badge of honor, and any pause is filled with distractions, a mere click away.
We drown ourselves in the noise of the world, filling every empty space with stimulation—anything to avoid sitting with ourselves.
And yet, in the stillness we resist, there lies a hidden power.
The Courage to Face Yourself
To sit in stillness requires courage. It’s about stepping fully into it—the reality within yourself.
It demands that we face our thoughts, our emotions, our unresolved fears—without judgment, without numbing ourselves with external noise.
In stillness, there’s nowhere to run.
You meet yourself as you are.
This is where character is forged.
When we practice meditation, we cultivate patience, resilience, and equanimity.
We begin to understand that we are not our thoughts. That emotions arise and pass, like waves upon the shore. That true strength lies not in reacting, but in choosing how we respond to life.
What Meditation Reveals About Your Inner Strength
Think about the last time you sat in silence, free of distractions. How long did it take before you reached for your phone? Before your mind raced to unfinished tasks? Before restlessness crept in?
Our ability to sit in stillness reflects our ability to stay present in life. It reveals:
🔹 Patience: Can we stay with discomfort without immediately seeking relief?
🔹 Resilience: Do we resist what is, or do we learn to embrace each moment?
🔹 Equanimity: Can we remain steady, undisturbed by the chaos within and around us?
Meditation is not the destination—it’s the training ground. It prepares us to move through life with strength, grace, and unshakable presence.
Meditation prepares us for life itself.
When a difficult conversation arises, when uncertainty looms, when stress threatens to overwhelm us—our ability to remain present and equanimous defines our response.
My Journey with Meditation
The first time I sat in meditation, I thought I would find peace.
Instead, I found war—inside my own mind.
My legs ached, my thoughts screamed for escape, and I questioned why I had chosen this.
Stillness was unbearable.
But then, something shifted.
I noticed that my discomfort came and went, just like my thoughts. And for the first time, I realized—I was not my pain, not my emotions. I was simply observing.
This was freedom.
I first encountered meditation on a trip to India years ago.
There are many techniques, but I was introduced to Vipassana—a practice of deep self-observation, where you focus on every sensation in your body to master your mind.
For hours each day, I sat in silence. The discipline was grueling, but it changed me.
I developed an unshakable determination, a clarity I had never known before.
And, most importantly, I learned to self-regulate—to witness life as it unfolds without immediately reacting.
I fell so deeply in love with meditation that, for a time, I wanted to become a nun—to dedicate my life entirely to inner stillness.
But then I realized something:
The real test of patience, resilience, and equanimity isn’t found in solitude—it’s found in the real world, among people, in the messiness of life itself.
It would have been easy to withdraw, to cultivate peace in isolation. But the true challenge—the true practice—is to carry that stillness into daily life. To remain calm in the face of conflict and heartbreak. To hold steady when the world shakes around me.
And I also realized this: to sit in stillness with yourself, you must become the kind of person you can bear to be alone with.
If my mind were filled with regret, resentment, or unaddressed wounds, solitude would feel unbearable.
But through the intentional cultivation of virtues—courage, kindness, integrity—I have found peace in my own company.
This is why character matters. Because when the noise fades, when distractions are stripped away, we are left with nothing but ourselves.
And we must ask:
Am I at peace with the person I am?
If not, who do I need to become to be so?
What virtues do I need to develop to be happy with my own company?
A 7-Day Challenge to Strengthen Your Character
If you’re new to meditation (or if you’ve fallen out of practice), I invite you to take this simple yet transformative challenge—not just to practice stillness, but to intentionally cultivate the virtues that will make you stronger and more at peace with yourself.
1️⃣ Set Your Intention (Day 1)
Before you begin, ask yourself: What kind of person do I want to become?
Do you want to be more patient? More courageous? More compassionate? Write it down. Meditation is not just about silence—it’s about sculpting the person you aspire to be.
2️⃣ Practice Stillness (Days 1-7)
Each day, follow this core practice:
🕰 Set a timer for 5-10 minutes.
🌿 Sit in a quiet place and close your eyes.
💨 Focus on your breath and bodily sensations.
💭 When your mind wanders (and it will), gently return your attention to your breath.
Stillness is the foundation. It teaches patience, resilience, and self-mastery—the core virtues of inner strength.
3️⃣ Face Your Thoughts Without Fear (Day 2-3)
As you sit in silence, observe the thoughts that arise.
Are they restless? Self-critical? Fearful? Instead of resisting them, simply notice.
This practice cultivates self-awareness and courage—the ability to face yourself honestly without judgment.
4️⃣ Build Emotional Strength (Day 4-5)
Shift your focus from observation to intentional growth.
When you experience discomfort—whether physical, mental, or emotional—stay with it instead of reacting.
Ask yourself: What virtue is being tested right now?
If you feel impatient → Cultivate patience.
If you feel anxious → Cultivate trust and resilience.
If you feel self-doubt → Cultivate self-compassion.
Meditation isn’t just about being still—it’s about becoming unshakable.
5️⃣ Develop Kindness Toward Yourself (Day 6)
A powerful way to build character is through self-compassion.
Try this: As you sit in meditation, imagine speaking to yourself as you would a dear friend.
Would you criticize them for struggling? Or would you encourage them with kindness?
Speak to yourself with that same gentleness and respect.
This practice builds self-love, confidence, and inner peace—the foundation for being at home in your own company.
6️⃣ Carry Stillness into the Real World (Day 7 & Beyond)
The final step: Take what you’ve learned beyond the cushion!
Throughout your day, pause for mini-meditations:
Before responding in a stressful moment, take a breath and choose your response.
Before reacting to an emotion, observe it first.
Before rushing through your day, slow down and notice the present moment.
True character isn’t built in stillness alone—it’s tested and strengthened in action.
Reflection: Who Are You Becoming?
At the end of the challenge, ask yourself:
✨ What changed in me this week?
✨ What virtues did I develop?
✨ How can I carry this practice into my daily life?
Meditation is not an escape. It is a discipline, a practice, and a path to becoming the virtuous person you want to be to move through life with clarity and grace.
Are you willing to sit with yourself, not just to quiet your mind, but to shape your being and build your character?
Let me know if you take this challenge—I’d love to hear what you discover.👇
On this journey with you,
Alma
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