Even as the wind kicks up waves on the lake, the swan remains serene, elegant, imperial. But you don’t see how much effort those webbed feet are making beneath the surface to keep the swan moving on his regal way.
How do you maintain composure on the choppy days?
I think what helps me most is having made a regular practice of daily meditation. This has made me more composed in general, which stands me in good stead on choppy days, even if those are the days it is difficult to meditate, or even impossible to find the time. I see it as sort of like getting good nutrition regularly, rather than waiting till one becomes ill and then tries to swallow mega doses of Vit. C.
I’ve mentioned in another note that I use deep breathing to calm myself when things get choppy. Five minutes of deep breathing is like good medicine for me. The other thing that I am still learning is this: if I decide that the problem isn’t mine to solve, I send it somewhere else…either out into space or back (gently, I hope) to the other person. I don’t let myself assume responsibility for other people’s problems that I can’t solve or know nothing about.
I really like that idea of sending the problem somewhere else. I imagine that would be easier to do after deep breathing and/or meditation.
you are right, Margaret, Deep breathing for maybe 5 minutes (seems long but it isn’t) can help me get into a state of mind that I think more clearly and don’t rush things.