There are paths and habits that lead to a more frequent experience of calm moments. Yoga is one of those paths. Meditation, volunteering time, taking care of self and others are a few other ways.
Paths that begin as solo ventures to find peace all have a similar evolution; once personal peace has been encountered, there is the chance to share it with others.
Before consistent sharing commences, it is important to reach a place of sustained peace and personal acceptance. As the old saying goes, “Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others”
However, it is worth noting some of us tend to miss this opportunity to extend peace to others (myself included).
Calm has a subtle, yet addictive quality. Like that floating feeling we soak in after a fantastic massage. When we’re lying on the table after the therapist leaves the room. We could stay there forever, swimming in a pool of puddly, mushy, relaxed muscles and released tension. Sadly, we know it is a finite experience. Gotta get up, put our pants on and face the world.
The beautiful irony of it all? Sharing peace with others is a big ol’ massage for the heart and soul.
Another truth worth noting: calm and peace, if only received and never given, do have the potential to lull a person into a state of complacency.
That is not what peace is for.
Peace and calm provide clarity. Clarity allows for better understanding. Better understanding leads to better decision making. Better decision making can lead to positive actions. Actions that are hopefully taken to create a richer, fuller, more just and beautiful world not just for ourselves, but for those we share it with. Especially those who are marginalized or in the midst of struggles.
The world has many things that need improvement. Praying for peace will only get you so far. At some point you need to get off your meditation cushion and fight for it.
Time and energy are the most precious resources we have. Consider giving time to others. It can be as simple as the respectful and healing act of truly listening when someone is speaking to you. It can be as straight forward as recycling, composting, or driving less and walking a bit more to be kinder to the environment. It can be as easy as smiling at a stranger who catches your eye.
Calmness is not complacency. It is the starting point of an internal revolution. A revolution that could lead to a kinder world for ourselves and others.
