The lives of most Americans today could be considered anything EXCEPT calm! We run so much that we don’t know what calm is. If we’re not overly busy, we’re overly stressed, anxious or ruminating about something. To make our lives feel somewhat manageable we run to fast foods, anti-depressants or anything to escape.
When I think of calm, I think of serenity. I envision someone in a posture of meditation or relaxing on the beach. Their body is relaxed and their mind is quiet. There is a hint of a smile on their faces and nothingness (or beauty) surrounding them. Just the vision itself relaxes me. But in the real world – the world of deadlines, chaos, and demands placed upon us it is difficult to find that peace. So how can we find it?
First of all, we have to create it. We have to schedule it into our busy schedules. A hundred years ago or so, we found it in the monotony of churning butter, darning socks, stirring a pot, kneading bread, etc. It was a quiet mental state. The whole of our days were surrounding meals for the family. Today if we have to spend 10 minutes in a kitchen we panic. We went from being physically active, looking forward to those monotonous jobs to mentally active, even more desperately craving stillness. To get it we have to schedule it.
Even though it adds to a busy lifestyle, try vegetable gardening. It is a stillness (with some activity) that calms the mind and grounds you. There is a satisfaction to watching the wonder of life as the seed grows to plants you can harvest and eat. There is a deep gratification to eating something that you participated in its life, and you know what’s in it (you don’t in junk foods). Being in the fresh air, getting dirty, smelling the fragrance of new growth – they all add to a peacefulness deep inside.
Schedule time to get out into the woods, or onto the water. Where do you find the greatest peace? Yes, activities add to an already busy schedule, but if you don’t you will suffer. Stress creates havoc on the body in many ways. If you ignore it long enough you’ll get slapped down and forced to be still – we call that disease. Would you rather spend a little extra time each month being peaceful, or being in the hospital?
Another option is acupuncture. Acupuncture helps to reduce the effects of stress on the body, to reduce anxiety and improve moods. You can feel the calming effect of acupuncture in each and every treatment. It is truly a peaceful treat!
If you want calm, schedule it!
© 2010 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
