Making Use Of Calm

Being calm is it’s own reward. It is like the old saying “The gift of patience is patience.” The same can be said of calm. It’s presence lends itself to clarity, and increases the likelihood of self-honesty. It also creates an environment that makes accessing and living from intuition more likely. It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and so does genius. When calm is present, genius is much more likely to flood into space.

There are different kinds of calm. There is the calm before the storm, the calm of knowing that things sometimes get tougher before they get better. This is the calm of resignation, of steeling ourselves for a great challenge. 

Sometimes there is the calm of a mission accomplished. This is a calm of deep joy. There is even a greater joy, a joy beyond the objectification of any mission, which is knowing you are committed to a path. This is to have a code of living, of personal honor. It is not a calm that needs anyone else’s sanction. It is a fulfillment in it’s dedication. To be dedicated in this way is to fulfill the mission, even before it’s success. The dedication is it’s success. 

This is what we work to uncover during the 40 Days. We touch the edge of our commitment gently, daily. The space of calm is also the space of practice. We develop ourselves as disciples of our own discipline. We build this intention like a muscle, doing just a little practice on the days and times things are calm. 

If we learn to practice when we feel calm, we will be able to practice when we feel anxiety. It is actually even harder to dedicate ourselves to a life of discipline when we feel better about things. No matter where you stand in the aftermath of this election remember that on some deep level you are very, very tired. We all are. Remember to move toward a specific goal that culminates on day 40. Create a specific plan and move toward this goal in moments of calm. Do not waste the peace of calm. With the edge of discipline we can achieve the calm of peace.