A calm mind is a mind that can endure most things. It’s easy to be calm when things go your way, but what about when they don’t?
How can you tap into calmness during difficult times?
The opposite of calm is stress and you know when you awake each day that stress will appear; it’s a part of life. How much stress you experience is what changes. If you think of it as rain, it’s easy to imagine stress as a mild mist that comes about before a raging thunderstorm, or anything in between.
When a health crisis happens to you, or to someone you love, it turns your life upside down. Feelings of fear and stress rage through your body not unlike the previously mentioned thunderstorm; it’s bound to happen.
A Diagnosis
Last month, my beautiful brother, Barry, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. He and I both experience our life with a progressive neuromuscular disease known as Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT). This shared genetic gift creates a tender bond between us. We’re often mistaken for twins though we were born sixteen months apart – but, that’s more because of our gentle nature and positive outlook than our appearance.
We both use medical aids and devices to keep us active. Leg braces, walkers, scooters, but most importantly, a breathing ventilator, or bi-pap, that basically takes over the muscle work of breathing during rest. Unlike a c-pap used for sleep apnea, ours is a must-have. Without it …well, you get the idea.
Last summer Barry felt increasingly weak and decided to stop working. We all thought this was because of the pre-existing disease. Time to slow down. He and his wife made the decision to move to the city where I live with my partner and a few cats. They purchased a condo just down the street. We’re close enough now that he and I can use our scooters to visit.
However, his breathing has continued to be challenged by a blocked nose and consequently, he did not sleep well. After much discomfort, he was diagnosed; he has a tumor lodged in his upper nasal cavity.
A Whirlwind
Days before Christmas, the four of us drove three hours to the cancer facility where he will receive treatment. The physicians are impressive and the centre is state-of-the-art. His diagnosis was explained and a schedule of tests and treatments was outlined. Fortunately, full family support during consultation visits was welcome. We’ve now named ourselves – ‘Team Barry‘.
When we returned I felt exhausted and in a state of shock. The following day, I fell into the trap of fearful thinking. It was as if I time traveled into an unknown abyss and panic set in.
Calm Down
I thought about my recent learnings about The Three Principles, an understanding of how life operates. I focused on the Principle of Thought, it reminds us that our experience of life is created by our thoughts in the moment. Let me repeat…
Our experience of life is created by our thoughts in the moment
Immediately, I saw that I was the one creating my experience of panic through fearful thinking.
Realizing this brought an image of a spinning top to my mind – a toy I favoured as a child. In essence, I was the one pumping the toy’s handle. I created the energy force to propel the spin with my fearful thinking.
This insight freed me. Mentally, I lifted my hand from the top and let the toy spin out. It lost its motion.
Calm Immediately Resurfaced
All emotions are preset and come within our humanness – they are activated by our thinking. Consciousness, allows us to transform formless energy into form. In this instance, for a short while, I got caught up with the special effects associated with fear. I chose to let go of fear and instead look within and locate my preset for calm. Looking in this direction felt like coming home.
Supporting my brother is important to me and from time to time fearful thinking surfaces, but I quickly see it for what it is, let it go, and return to calm.
A calm mind can endure.
