“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes a day, unless you are too busy, then you should sit for an hour.” This ancient Zen proverb holds a wisdom that Heather Picard came to understand through her own transformative journey. Once, she was caught in the relentless cycle of busyness, believing that a jam-packed schedule was the key to a meaningful life. But as she discovered, true fulfillment lies not in doing more, but in finding stillness within.
Picard used to approach life with a “power through” mindset. Every day was a race to cram as many tasks as possible onto her to – do list. At work, she juggled staff management, payroll, invoicing, customer relations, marketing, and even the occasional office bathroom cleanup. At home, the list of responsibilities was just as long: parenting, cooking dinner, cleaning, helping with homework, putting the kids to bed, doing laundry, and planning for the next day. By the end of the day, she’d collapse into a restless sleep, her mind still racing and her teeth grinding.
But it wasn’t just the basic demands of work and family that kept her busy. Picard had an overachiever complex. She took on leadership roles in the school foundation, served as head chef for community meals, led committees, and in her so – called “free time,” trained for triathlons. She wanted to be the woman who could do it all, and the busier she was, the more important she felt. The praise and attention she received from others fueled her ego, providing the adrenaline rush that kept her going. She was convinced that without the constant flurry of activity, her life would be insignificant, like a plain beige house lost in a sea of identical homes.
Her busyness became an addiction. Each completed project was like a shot of adrenaline, making her feel good and giving her a sense of accomplishment. But just as an anorexic might not realize the damage being done to their body, Picard was blind to the toll her non-stop lifestyle was taking on her. Her back hurt, her jaw ached, and her adrenal glands were worn down, a warning sign of potential health problems to come.
The turning point in Picard’s life came after her mother’s death. Her father, who had taken up Vipassana meditation at a Buddhist retreat center, gave her a gift: a three – day silent meditation retreat. Despite being touched by the gesture, she was filled with nervousness. The thought of sitting still for three days seemed daunting. She worried about exercise, bathroom breaks during meditation, and whether she’d be able to stick it out.
The first two days of the retreat were a struggle. She fought to be patient, often letting her mind wander, counting down the minutes until the bell rang, and taking regular walks instead of engaging in proper “walking meditations.” But on the third day, something magical happened. She surrendered to the moment, and the stillness brought a profound sense of peace. It was as if a warm bath had washed over her, relaxing her tense muscles and calming her busy mind. In that quiet space, she finally felt like she was “coming home.”
That New Year’s Eve, Picard made a resolution to meditate every day for a year. Despite it being yet another addition to her already long list of things to do, it felt like the right thing to do. She decided to keep it simple: no strict schedule, no specific method, no set time limit, and no designated place. It was just her, sitting and observing her breath. And as she stuck to her resolution, her life began to change. Her back pain lessened, she found herself craving more quiet moments, and she became more attuned to her feelings and intuition. The urgency to constantly get things done started to fade away.
Six years on, the impact of her almost – daily meditation practice is still evident. Though she still has a tendency towards over – productivity, she’s learned to recognize it as a choice rather than an inevitable part of her nature. Her smartphone, with its constant pull to engage in more activities and conversations, is like a temptation she must resist. But now, instead of succumbing to the old patterns, she closes her eyes, focuses on her breath, and reminds herself that there’s no need to rush. In those moments of stillness and presence, her insecurities melt away, replaced by a deep sense of connection and gratitude.
Picard’s story is a powerful reminder that in a world that glorifies busyness, true peace and fulfillment come from within. It’s not about doing more, but about learning to be still, to listen to our inner selves, and to find joy in the present moment.
