Choosing Stillness in a World Obsessed with Hustle
- Bikundo Onyari
- May 2
- 2 min read

What if today's most powerful form of resistance is not loud or visible?
What if it is choosing to be still?
Lolosoli Awakening
Lolosoli had it all, or so it seemed. She was the woman people pointed to when talking about "success." A thriving business in Nairobi's bustling central district. A calendar full of meetings. Speaking engagements. Mentorship calls. Her name was synonymous with hustle, and she wore it like armor. But her spirit was eroding beneath the shiny exterior.
She arrived home one evening, still wearing heels, and sobbed as she sat on her bed following another hectic day and a hurried snack in traffic. She could not recall the last time she had breathed, not because something had gone wrong.
That night, she made a quiet but radical decision: to resist through stillness.
The Glorification of Hustle
We live in a world that glorifies motion. "Keep grinding", "Work smarter, not harder", "Keep your eyes on the ball". These mantras are fed by capitalism and turbocharged by social media. We share productivity hacks, post photos of working vacations, and treat burnout like a badge of honor.
Even in African urban centers, where life once moved to the rhythm of community, nature, and ancestral wisdom, there is increasing pressure to move faster. Faster wealth. Faster success. Faster fame.
But at what cost?
Stillness as Resistance
To slow down in such a world is often seen as lethargy. But in truth, it is a radical act. A reclaiming. A refusal to let your output define your worth.
Stillness is ancestral. Our forebears did not rush. They observed the stars before planting. They sat around the fire to listen, not just speak. They retreated into nature not to escape but to reconnect.
To rest, to breathe, to reflect; these are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
"Our ancestors understood that stillness was a form of listening; to spirit, nature, and self".
The Science of Stillness
Modern science affirms what ancient wisdom already knew.
Stillness regulates our nervous systems. It activates the parasympathetic state, rest, and digestion. It helps us process trauma, improves clarity, and boosts creativity.
Research shows that silence can regenerate brain cells, reduce cortisol, and increase empathy. The body heals with rest. The soul remembers in stillness.
An Invitation to You
Your invitation:
To question the pace of your life. To reclaim what rest means for you. To remember that your exhaustion does not measure your worth.
When you choose stillness, you are not falling behind.
You are realigning with your sacred rhythm.

Bikundo Onyari is a self-taught lifepreneur based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an NLP coach, life/business coach, facilitator, and trainer. He inspires high-impact individuals to defy the impossible in their personal and professional lives to produce immediate, unprecedented, and lasting results. He achieves this by supporting them in developing an authentic personal vision for life and going for it! You can reach him at ww.bikundo.co.ke
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