Finding Stillness

Freddy Murphy

Beyond The Blues

For this project, I chose to create a plain, rounded, understated ceramic candle to highlight the role of mindfulness, calm, and peace in sustaining a sound, emotional life. While working with clay often means moving slowly, even this candle required a deeper level of focus. While carving the patterns along the sides, I began to realize that I needed to be mindful of every move I made and the pressure I applied when pushing against the clay. The object became a practice. 

Mindfulness, stillness, and peace are especially important for mental health, as they help mitigate the chaos and overstimulation of everyday life. Mindfulness involves being aware, intentionally, of the present moment and observing thoughts and feelings without reacting. Stillness consists in slowing down the body and mind. Peace can be achieved only when both of these concepts are integrated. The ceramic candle above reflects this theme of mindfulness, stillness, and peace by providing a visual reminder of stillness. The object embodies the essence of stillness, as a flame’s presence is characterized by silence and warmth. 

This idea is fundamental in psychology, where slowing down can be the only way to regain control. Life moves in a series of demands that all involve speed: faster answers, endless productivity, and constant motion. However, like clay, the mind will shatter and fall apart when pushed too quickly. This is where the candle becomes essential. This symbol of caution illustrates that inactivity is not the same as procrastination but rather a careful, thoughtful act. To pause long enough to breathe, to think, to acknowledge feelings rather than stifling them, promotes a healthy mind, just as a candle promotes a healthy flame. The carving exercise further reinforced this message. The clay needed to be worked with, not rushed. 

Finally, this article has shown me that tranquility, calm, and peace are not merely passive concepts but, rather, active pursuits shaped through effort, much as clay is shaped. This ceramic candle that sits in front of me represents these values in tangible form: that, no matter how busy and chaotic our world can be, we can still find tranquility.