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Daily Question, August 11

How can I cultivate peace in the midst of chaotic moments?

  • Pavithra

    I like to gently close my eyes, take a few deep breaths and recite the Gayatri Mantras 12 times(in my mind). It illuminates my mind and helps me connect with the true purpose of life.

  • Antoinette

    I can cultivate peace in the present moment of chaos I coming back to my intention. My intention is to open up my heart with love at every moment.
    I can ask myself how can I soften up and be more flexible right now rather than choosing to become brittle and harsh. Where can I shine the light now to what’s going on?

  • Malag

    Take a pause. Do a grounding exercise. Eg a few deep but small breaths. Notice 5 things you can see, hear, feel. Depending on the chaos, there may be only time for just a couple of breaths, the military tactical pause.

  • Maeve

    Get up, and go work on something that needs to be done. Today it was plant my two pots of flowers, and water the plants.

    Being outside and moving or walking.

  • Don Jones

    Just knowing that no matter what the chaos is around me, or what imaginary story is unfolding in my mind, that I can choose how I react and that when I choose to respond from the silence and stillness of the eye of the I, that peace, bliss and joy always result.

  • Mica

    by remembering to visit gratefulness.org
    by doing a 15-min sit before bed, which calms me a lot
    …

  • Melissa

    Lately due to COVID chaos of not knowing the future for our country and planet’s health. When I feel totally overwhelmed I close my eyes and take 3 deep breaths and picture the stars of the milky way. Somehow this centers me and frees me up to continue on the best I can. With kindness and love for myself and others. Step by step, day by day.

  • Hot Sauce

    For me, it helps to remember that, not only have I overcome chaotic moments of life in the past, but I have also come out of them stronger and with new life lessons that have led to moments of great joy and ecstasy. The dark night of the soul is often the gate to the bright light of the soul.

  • Arleen
    Lately, there have been many times that I must cultivate peace in the midst of chaos mostly due to COVID. I had a dream come true in January but now because of the pandemic my dream has been taken away from me. So when I feel this loss, I remember the words of a song by Don Moen. The title of the song is the first line. Oh, God will make a way Where there seems to be no way He works in ways we cannot see He will make a way for me He will be my guide Hold me closely to His side With...

    Lately, there have been many times that I must cultivate peace in the midst of chaos mostly due to COVID. I had a dream come true in January but now because of the pandemic my dream has been taken away from me. So when I feel this loss, I remember the words of a song by Don Moen. The title of the song is the first line.

    Oh, God will make a way
    Where there seems to be no way
    He works in ways we cannot see
    He will make a way for me
    He will be my guide
    Hold me closely to His side
    With love and strength for each new day
    He will make a way, He will make a way

    I say the first few lines and imagine the rest as paraphrased as I cannot remember them word for word. This allows me to see that I am not in control–God is. And he will be there taking care of me. I don’t know God’s plan for me, but I will be ok.

    Read More
  • Carol

    When I read today’s question, I chuckled. Something my sister said to me a couple of days ago when I was having one of my compulsive doubting moments came to mind. “Tough titty but the milk’s still good.” Great mantra to remind me to look at all the things I need to be grateful for here and now in the midst of the Pandemic and political divisiveness plaguing my country.

  • KC

    As I learn to cultivate peace through daily practice. I am more able to respond in a skillful way in chaotic moments. ???

  • Linda

    I must remember to calm myself when emotions start to take over. It is easy to get caught up in all the “what-ifs” which never helps.

  • Present Moment

    Without dwelling on possible negative situations, regularly reminding myself of the protocol I employ prepares me.

  • Zenith
    This is a tough one. I do pretty well maintaining peace in my own little bubble at home. It is when I leave my personal space and go out in public that I run into problems. Since I started this journey I have learned how negative most people are and even though my goal is to speak affirmation to each and every person I meet, I inevitably meet an opportunity to practice staying calm, controlling irritatation, and speaking peace. My personal response to Covid19 was never panic. It was, let's wait ...

    This is a tough one. I do pretty well maintaining peace in my own little bubble at home. It is when I leave my personal space and go out in public that I run into problems. Since I started this journey I have learned how negative most people are and even though my goal is to speak affirmation to each and every person I meet, I inevitably meet an opportunity to practice staying calm, controlling irritatation, and speaking peace. My personal response to Covid19 was never panic. It was, let’s wait for this to pass. It has gone on far longer than I thought it would because of other people which really irritates me to death. But I continue to practice peace in my bubble and try to share that with others. It is not always easy. But try I must.

    Read More
  • Michele

    Say a prayer/light a candle. Just breathe.

  • Howie Geib
    Three things immediately come to mind. 1. Rely on protocol. Like Sully in the cockpit of the jet over the Hudson, go through the steps of the protocol…which means that one must have a plan in advance. IN chaos planning is near impossible. 2. Being an agent of calm. Even a powerless accidental spectator can add the energetic of collected, grounded calm to any situation. This is something one absentmindedly develops in a regular meditation practice, and some have an intuitive sense to do this...

    Three things immediately come to mind.

    1. Rely on protocol. Like Sully in the cockpit of the jet over the Hudson, go through the steps of the protocol…which means that one must have a plan in advance. IN chaos planning is near impossible.

    2. Being an agent of calm. Even a powerless accidental spectator can add the energetic of collected, grounded calm to any situation. This is something one absentmindedly develops in a regular meditation practice, and some have an intuitive sense to do this (often parents….adding calm onto an open intra-fraternal flame war can work wonders).

    3. Taking the right action. If possible, taking right action is often observable by others who then replicate that action, and also often many are looking for someone to take charge…I often think of the expression taking charge having dual meanings: leadership AND energy…grounding. Like a lightning rod.

    Read More
    • Patricia

      Howie, re: Sully. There is a recent (last week) interview of him on the podcast called “The Oath with Chuck Rosenberg.” Really wonderful and inspiring precisely about character and knowing the protocol as second nature. And thank you for your reflections on this question…

    • sparrow

      Well said, Howie…

  • Ed Schulte

    “This too shall pass”
    held in the heart centre’s ( Rosy Red to luminous white ) while breathing in a 4-heart beat count in / 4 heart beat out , relaxed body rhythm. .

  • sunnypatti

    Pause. Take a few deep breaths. Connect to the light within. Pray.

  • Katrina
    I am usually good in a sudden emergency kind of chaos moment. I can quickly stop, evaluate and be present in whatever way is needed - either listening, just being present or doing. However, in these longer, epic times of chaos - or even in slowly building chaotic moments, when I have time to worry about outcomes and feel out of control, I feel more challenged to find ways to cultivate an ongoing peace for myself and others. It has been difficult to sustain peace during this pandemic - but then i...

    I am usually good in a sudden emergency kind of chaos moment. I can quickly stop, evaluate and be present in whatever way is needed – either listening, just being present or doing. However, in these longer, epic times of chaos – or even in slowly building chaotic moments, when I have time to worry about outcomes and feel out of control, I feel more challenged to find ways to cultivate an ongoing peace for myself and others. It has been difficult to sustain peace during this pandemic – but then it was difficult before, we just had more and different outlets. I am having to dig deep into creativity – learning new things, exercise, and intentional connections with others.

    Read More
  • Trish

    Grounding myself through meditation & prayer will cultivate peace in myself which is the first step. When I make peaceful connections w/ people the chaos dissipates, even for a brief time & peace is dispersed like pollen. Every exchange we have w/ another is an opportunity to enhance peace. We must be wise & prepared.

    • Howie Geib

      “prepared”….yes. As a Virgo I have a tendency to make plans. It has annoyed many but often proves to be useful.

      • Trish

        The useful annoyer is often called when things get rough?

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