Embracing Stillness: My 108-Day Meditation Journey

For 108 days in a row, I sat in silence.

No phone.

No distractions.

I had just opened a yoga and sound studio in Calgary — Sacred Air. This dream was born from passion, purpose, and a deep love for healing work. However, building something meaningful comes with its challenges.

Running a new business, showing up for others, and trying to hold it all together left my mind loud and scattered.

I was giving wellness — but quietly losing touch with my own. It’s a common story, isn’t it? You pursue something from the heart. You go all in. And somewhere along the way, you realize… you’ve left yourself behind. This challenge wasn’t just about meditation. It was about remembering myself — in the stillness, in the breath, in the space between the chaos.

Why 108 Days?

I’ll be honest — the number 108 felt special to me from the start. In yoga and meditation traditions, it’s considered sacred. But as I looked deeper, I found that it’s not just symbolic — there’s some interesting science behind it too. For example, the Earth is about 108 times the Sun’s diameter away from the Sun, and the Moon is roughly 108 times its own diameter away from Earth. Those cosmic patterns might be coincidence, but they’re still pretty fascinating.

On a more practical level, behavioral science shows that doing something consistently for 100+ days can lead to real, lasting change — what’s often called identity-based habit formation. So, 108 felt like the perfect mix: meaningful, grounded in tradition, and supported by science. I was curious what 108 days of stillness would do to a busy, modern brain like mine. Could consistency over that many days rewire my brain? Shift my mental patterns? Help me feel… less reactive, and more grounded?

So I committed.

The First Week: Boredom, Restlessness, and Resistance

The first seven days were… rough.

I sat down, closed my eyes, and instantly felt uncomfortable. My brain ran wild: to-do lists, past mistakes, future worries. Every minute felt like an hour.

But I made a promise to sit every day — even if it was messy.

Weeks 2–4: Tiny Wins and Subtle Shifts

Somewhere around Day 14, I noticed something.

I wasn’t necessarily “getting better” at meditation — but I was starting to crave the stillness. It felt like a reset button. My reactions to everyday stress — traffic, emails, even disagreements — started softening. I was slowly gaining space between stimulus and response.

Day 42: The Click

This was the day it clicked.

I sat down, and for the first time, I wasn’t just “doing” meditation — I was being in it.

My breath felt steady. My body relaxed. Thoughts came and went like clouds, and I didn’t chase them. I just… noticed.

From that day on, everything changed.

The Unexpected Benefits

Here’s what I gained over 108 days of daily meditation:

• Less mental noise: My inner dialogue got quieter. I felt fewer intrusive thoughts and less spiraling.

• Faster emotional recovery: I still felt triggered sometimes — but I bounced back quicker.

• Better sleep: My mind wasn’t racing at night anymore. Falling asleep became easier.

• More intentional communication: I listened more. Reacted less. Paused before speaking.

• Increased self-awareness: I became more conscious of my patterns — and started breaking the ones that weren’t serving me.

  
  

Fall In Love with Stillness

As the challenge came to a close, summer ended.

I found myself meditating with a blanket wrapped around me, windows open, and the first crisp breeze of fall rolling in.

And in that moment, I realized:

I didn’t just finish a challenge.

I had created a deeper practice.

One that I could carry into the next season — and the next version of myself.

Final Thoughts: 108 Days Won’t Fix Your Life — But It Will Change It

Meditation didn’t make my problems disappear.

But it changed how I meet them.

It gave me space, perspective, and patience. It helped me realize that peace isn’t something you find — it’s something you build, breath by breath.

So, would I recommend it?

Absolutely.

If you’re looking to quiet the noise, rewire your habits, and ground yourself for the season ahead… start with one breath. One minute. One day.

And keep showing up.

You never know where 108 days might lead.

Want to Try It?

Join me in your own 108-day meditation challenge.

Start small — even 5 minutes a day counts.

Tag your journey: #108DaysOfStillness

Have questions or want help getting started? Drop a comment below or reach out. Let’s breathe through this together or book a class at our new studio.

With Gratitude,

Sandy Tut