Is calmness a passive state of being, involving numbing oneself to what’s really going on? Is it in some cases unnatural – sociopathic even? Or is a sense of tranquility one of the greatest qualities we can have? Here are five ideas about calmness, from the philosophy of serenity, to the music, art and poetry that can make us feel peaceful – and how to find our “flow”.
Stoic serenity
“Stay calm and serene regardless of what life throws at you,” advised the Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius. In the Stoic mindset, it seems, calmness is everything – it is strength.
Electronic escape
From supposedly soothing pan pipes to ambient rainforest sounds, we are all accustomed to the stock idea of soundscapes as a calming backdrop.
Art of tranquility
Likewise in visual art, one viewer’s tranquil, meditative experience is another’s intense psychodrama.
Harmony of haiku
The traditional form of Japanese poetry, haiku, which consists of 17 syllables in three lines, is widely considered to have a calming effect on the reader.
Find your flow
Being calm need not equate with being passive or numb. When we’re absorbed in something we love – music, gardening, drawing, knitting, writing, whatever it is – we can enter an almost trance-like state of calm, mesmerized by what we are doing.
I – Word Understanding
Sociopathic – socially unacceptable; wrong
Stoic – showing no emotions or complaints when something bad is happening
Ambient – existing or present around you
Tranquil – quiet and free from disturbance
II – Have Your Say
1, How do you usually behave when you are under pressure? What do you do to calm yourself?
2, What sounds do you consider soothing? In what situations do you need those soothing sounds?
3, Do you like art? Do you find it meditative or stimulating?
4, What makes Haiku calming? When was the last time you made your own haiku?
5, Flow is one of life’s highly enjoyable moments wherein you’re oblivious to the outside world and focused only on your activity. What are your “flow” moments?
