Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. – Saint Francis de Sales
Calmness is a state that seems to become rarer and rarer, especially for people living in busy cities. We tend to live in places with less contact with nature, more noise, all kinds of pollution, and a fast pace of life. Even the news and media we consume goes faster than before. In the middle of all that, it’s hard to find calm, but it’s still very important.
Why does calmness matter? What can it do for us?
The state of calmness is important for our well-being. It gives our brains and bodies a chance to recharge. Calmness is often necessary for focus. We can’t pay attention to one thing in particular when stressed and distracted. Noise, internal and external, is a constant source of stress, and calmness can counteract it.
Calmness also gives us the opportunity to recharge. It is an important condition for truly effective rest. When we lack the opportunity to be calm and be at peace, it can be much harder to recover. Calm is an important condition to heal and recuperate.
But how can we achieve a state of calmness? Work, families, the noise of the city, and many other things can make it difficult to find.
The first thing to consider is what brings you calm. Some people need absolute silence and a dim room. Others feel better outside in nature, even if it’s a little noisier. Sometimes, we find calm after exercising. Once you discover what helps you, you can pursue calmness more intentionally.
The next step is to create quiet spaces. Turn off your phone and notifications. Don’t listen to news or podcasts and go for a walk on a quiet street. Go on a hike. Take a warm bath with some peaceful music. Create spaces with no distractions, no expectations, and no noise, but with a lot of comfort.
Third, you can use practices like meditation to achieve a greater calmness in your life. Meditation, mindfulness, and similar approaches are meant to help you achieve more peace and serenity. The more you practice, the more you benefit, so don’t be discouraged if the first couple of times don’t seem to have a huge impact.
