There are storms in the forecast. They are inevitable, sometimes unpredictable. By storms I mean stressful situations, unexpected circumstances that unchain a series of emotions and that may take you off your tracks. Storms can come from the exterior, maybe a discussion with your spouse, a due date at work, an unhappy client, or a rebel child. In those situations, having clarity and a calm mind can help you take better decisions, think clearly before acting and keep your body in a relaxed mode which promotes a healthy life.
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What happens when the storm is not only outside but inside of you? How is a storm inside of you, you may ask? I like to think about an inner storm as a low emotion such as irritation, anger, hatred, guilt, pessimism, worry, rage, jealousy, insecurity, frustration, etc. When you combine what you feel inside with a stressful situation, the result may not be pretty, and that is the point. Creating a big storm is not the ideal scenario because it can leave you even more stressed and with even lower emotions. If you had ever combined inner storms with outer storms, you know what I am talking about. Maybe you were frustrated with work and when you got home you took your frustration on your kids, or your spouse, and ended up feeling more frustrated, angry and even guilty for your reactions, just to give you an example.
Nobody likes it when a situation like the one previously mentioned happens. The good news are that you can calm the inner storm before it gets out of control. Look at it this way, you don't have control over the outside storm but you can do something about the storm inside of you.
These are things you can put in practice to stay calm even when there are storms outside.
- Know yourself and identify when an inner storm is forming inside
- Get out of a low emotion by focusing on the good things you have in life
- Breathe slowly and deeply
- Take a walk whenever you feel the storm is forming to calm yourself down
- Try to see things as if you were an observer - detach yourself from your emotion
- Don't take things personally
- Find the lesson that you need to learn from the situation
Some benefits of having a calm mind:
- Increases your concentration, which helps you take better decisions.
- Reduces the risk of heart disease because you are less stressed.
- Increases your quality of sleep because you reduce your stress.
- Improves the chances of a happier life because you feel more in control of your emotions.
- Improves your relationships because you stop reacting to what others do or don't do.
Having a healthy life is possible for everyone, especially for those who want to live healthy and happy. If you do your part, and I do mine, this world will be a better place in which to live.