Calm

Good Monday Morning!

I hope you had a cool weekend despite the warm weather. There are many lovely places to ride out the heat in Southern California. We’re blessed with pools and friends who have pools to relax and take the edge off the heat, the beach where everything seems to feel better, lakes where we can water ski, and rivers to tube down. Some of us were grateful for air-conditioning and took full advantage of staying inside. Whatever choices made, I hope your weekend was restful and refreshing!

We live in a world that isn’t always easy to traverse. Our lives are busy with work, activities, children, pets, church, and families. There’s also reorienting ourselves from the stress and grief generated by the pandemic and the ensuing reintegration into work and social interaction. These situations cause anxiety and sometimes panic, depression, loss of sleep, an inability to relax, and a constant flow of thoughts and images in our minds that seem endless and are exhausting.

One of the ways to combat this feeling of racing to catch up is to introduce some activities that bring calm and order into our lives. The action takes determination and focus, but the benefits reveal themselves quickly. Once we are intentional about calming ourselves, we begin to feel a release from the rigors of daily life and can enjoy satisfying times of rest and reflection. I appreciate these thoughts from the Dalai Lama:

During times of duress, finding a space for our minds to be calm and practicing disciplines, such as mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude, provide a means to access our inner strength. The process of calming our pace, once we’ve tapped into our inner strength, then bolsters our self-confidence and diminishes our anxious thought patterns. The activity is akin to taking a breath of fresh air on the first day of spring after a harsh winter. Of course, ultimately, our wellbeing and quality of life increase.

Many have thoughts to share on being calm. Some of these are:

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” Saint Francis de Sales

“Your calm mind is your ultimate weapon against your challenges.” Bryant McGill

“When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” Francois del la Rochefoucauld

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

This week, let’s look for ways to assuage anxiety and attain peace and calm. Use techniques that have been helpful in the past and try a few new methods. If you need some ideas, reach out to me via email at lucindaguarino1@gmail.com, and I’ll offer some thoughts and resources!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda