Calm Mind In Difficult Times

More often than not, your composure in the face of challenges determines the outcome. Life cannot be fully predicted because it can be full of turns, twists, and challenges. Sometimes you may plan diligently, work hard, yet you may still face difficult situations. In these kind of situations, what may make the difference between breaking through and breaking down is just the way you respond. Having a calm mind is a very powerful and potent tool to possess when the storms of life rise up against you. The ability to remain calm even in the face of difficult times will become one of your greatest assets. You can only face the storms of life by having a calm and peaceful soul.

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When things go wrong or during difficult times, a lot of people resort to complaining, panicking, or even reacting out of emotions. But what they fail to understand is that you cannot extinguish fire by using petrol. Responding to an already difficult situation with panicking or emotions will not solve the problem, rather it may make it complicated and complex. But when you have a calm mind, it will give you clarity. You will need this clarity to examine the problem at hand, take a moment to consider it holistically, examine the situation constructively and proffer solutions to it. When you stir a muddy water, you cannot see through it. But when you leave it to settle, it will become clear and you can see through it. In the same way, when your mind is clear, you can make better decisions, because you will see the world better.

There is also a kind of strength that is radiated in a calm mind. Just to let you know, calmness is not weakness, nor is it laziness or stupidity, rather it is a show of Internal strength and the application of wisdom. If you see a lion or any of these big cats make advances towards their prey, it will be drawing closer silently and calmly until it gets close enough to pounce on it. This is why it has been said that "the slow and calm movement of the lion is not weakness." There are some things in life that you will better achieve when your mind is calm and void of the cares of the world. This will enable you to see the world differently, plan with clarity of mind, and take better and more informed decisions.

I once read about Nelson Mandela, who is regarded as one of the greatest South African activists that ever lived. During his time of activism, he was imprisoned for about 27 years, where he endured a lot of inhumane conditions, separation from his loved ones, humiliation, and all manner of mental tortures. For an average human, they might come out with anger, bitterness, and ready to retaliate. But for Nelson, he trailed the path of reconciliation and calmness. This was what he used to lead the nation of South Africa into a period of peace, while putting apartheid at rest. With calmness of mind, you will take better decisions.

Something happened sometimes ago where I did my internship. There was a time where a particular system was being upgraded, so the entire departments will have to switch over to the new system. So two departments faced a similar problem in the upgrade. The H.O.D of the first department panicked, shouted at the teammates and even blamed them. Yet the problem was not resolved quickly. The H.O.D of the second group calmed down, took a look at why the system crashed, reassessed the situation, and that was when he discovered the root of the problem, and with the teammates, they were able to figure out the solution. They were also the ones that later helped the first department. Calmness does not deny the presence of problems, but it creates the atmosphere to solve the problem.

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It is worthy to note that building a calm mind requires practice. You have to condition your mind to take a pause before reacting, then apply wisdom while responding. It is not every situation that demands your response, some may just demand your silence - you need to know the difference. Calmness is not about pretending that everything is fine, but knowing that even in the presence of the storm, there will be a way out. When you learn how to master your calmness, you will become stronger to navigate through life and become an overcomer.

Thanks for reading