Staying calm in the midst of Turbulence !

We all face chaos in our day-to-day lives, in many forms. Irrespective of how precisely we plan our actions, we end up finding ourselves in the midst of crisis. None of us can avoid problems or crisis situations emerging unexpectedly, but what matters is how beautifully, how artistically we deal with them !

Look at Shakespeare's Hamlet. He knows that there is a battle ahead which he is destined to fight. But he does it in a way which lacks all beauty. Always confused - "To be or not to be". Now look at Vyasa's Krishna, the perfect example of playfulness. He smiles in the middle of the deadliest calamities and tackle them just as he is playing a game. Ask your heart - Who among the above two archetypes you would like to be? I know the answer!

The Trick
I have put this into test. I have watched myself carefully while I dealt with crisis situations which needed immediate resolution (Fortunately, the IT Profession gives me enough opportunities for that!). And what I could pinpoint is this - Just before getting panicked, I have a few seconds of choice. It is purely my choice between getting panicked and staying calm. With the support of this crystal clear experience, I can tell you confidently - "You never get panicked, but you choose to get panicked".

So next time, watch yourself calmly. You will be able to pinpoint the moment at which you start develop butterflies in the stomach. At that time, just don't make the choice to get panicked. That is it. Yes, I just said "Don't choose to get panicked", I did not say "Choose to be calm", because calmness is the inner nature of everyone. It is there. If you don't choose to be anxious, angry or sad, it it will remain in it's natural state which is peace.

The above observation is deeply subtle, but guaranteed to provide profound results if put into practice. Just observe yourself, that will liberate you from anxiety.

Why stay calm?
Some of you may even ask why should we need to stay calm in the middle of a demanding situation? Isn't it ok to get a little panicked, provided it will help us act?
I would say, well - sometimes, panic might help you in achieving your target or solving your problem, and sometimes not. Even if you stay calm, sometimes you may achieve your target and sometimes not. So it is not a question of whether you win the battle or not, but it is a question of how beautifully you fight. But unquestionably, staying calm has an added advantage of better probability of success. But beyond that, there is something more happening in a deeper layer. Each time you go through a tough situation with a calm mind and a smiling face, you are growing stronger inside. I have felt it! So it is a practice. Meditating in isolation won't provide you calmness, because after sometime you have to get up and get back to your stressful life. So the real practice is in the midst of calamity and tension.

How to make this possible?
I have a friend who practices Stage Magic. This is a funny piece of advice he received from his Magic teacher. There are 3 steps to be a good Magician
Step1:Practice
Step2:Practice
Step3:Practice
Well said !!!

I would forward the same formula for practicing to stay calm. Each time you do this successfully in a stressful situation, you will feel more satisfied inside. And gradually, it will become natural.

Thank you!