Category Archives: Focus & Clarity

Cultivating Academic Humility (Part II): Allaying Anxiety

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Payal Patel

Have you ever had the experience where you are so sure of an erroneous understanding that you practically persist and argue to hold on to it in light of counterarguments? Often, in the classroom, I observe students that are so … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on February 17, 2018 by Payal Patel | Tagged accept, Anxiety, embrace, Humility, Learning, openminded | Leave a comment

Cultivating Academic Humility (Part I): The Doorway to Curiosity, Innovation, & Passion

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Payal Patel

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” –Albert Einstein. It is no coincidence that one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century spoke these words. Hearing Einstein’s name often conjures up the … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on January 29, 2018 by Payal Patel | Tagged Curiosity, Humility, Learning, Observing, openminded | 1 Comment

Unplugging for Clarity

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Payal Patel

When we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to unplug (literally, from all the electronic devices we use), and sit down with ourselves, acknowledge our exhaustion, our joys and failures of the day, our feelings of defeat, and our feelings of … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on August 17, 2017 by Payal Patel | Tagged Focus, ListenToYourBody, Mind/Body, NewSchoolYear, Relaxation, slowingdown, Social Media, Stillness, Unplug | 1 Comment

Waves of the Mind

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Payal Patel

Growing up, my parents told me a lot of stories from ancient Indian epics. There was one piece that always stuck in my mind. It was a repeated phrase which roughly translates, “In a moment of fury (or any other … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on August 7, 2017 by Payal Patel | Tagged accept, Anxiety, emotions, Focus, Learning, Meditation, Mind/Body, monkeymind, observe, Observing | 7 Comments

Harnessing the Breath

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Payal Patel

As you turn to the next page of your exam, your teacher announces, “Ten minutes left!” You flip through the remaining problems and freeze, “I don’t think I’ll finish!” For a moment, you hold your breath and your hand tightens … Continue reading →

Image | Posted on July 27, 2017 by Payal Patel | Tagged Balance, Breath, Breathe, Focus, Harness, InhaleExhale, Mind/Body, Relaxation, slowingdown | 5 Comments

Embracing Your Pace

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Payal Patel

Imagine this scenario — You are silently reading a book and every few minutes, you hear sounds of turning pages. You look up – your friend is on page 16. You look down at your book – I am only … Continue reading →

Posted in Focus & Clarity, Metacognition, Non-Judgement, Observation, Preparing the Mind, Self-Regulation, Stillness | Tagged accept, Anxiety, embrace, emotions, Meditation, observe, Observing, slowingdown, Stillness | 4 Comments

Welcome to Learning In Stillness!

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Payal Patel

Welcome Learning In Stillness Readers! Peace and Love, Payal Patel

Posted in Anxiety, Anxiety & Struggle, Beginner's Mind, Curiosity, Focus & Clarity, Grit, Math Anxiety, Metacognition, Non-Judgement, Observation, Preparing the Mind, Self-Regulation, Test Anxiety | Tagged Anxiety, Balance, Beginner's Mind, Breath, connection, Curiosity, embrace, emotions, evolvingmind, Exam, Focus, Grit, Growth, Humility, Labeling, Learning, learningfromchallenge, Meditation, Mind/Body, mindfulness, monkeymind, Non-Judgemental, Observing, OldHabits, Relaxation, Self-Regulation, Social Media, Stillness, Struggle, WhatIf | Leave a comment