The 7 Habits of Calmness

By Leo Babauta I have come to believe that high stress, constant anxiety over tasks and work and life, social anxiety … is all a part of the modern way of life. Most people just don’t feel a sense of peace, of calm, of serenity, throughout their day. I have to admit that I’m the same way some of the time, but I have learned a few things that have helped me create a feeling of calmness much more of the time than ever before. It’s a series of habits that have developed over the last few years. I’m not perfect at them, but I do practice them, and they are always helpful. These are habits, not a one-time change in my surroundings or work pattern. Changing your environment is great, but you can’t control the things that happen to you much of the time, and you certainly can’t control how other people act. The only thing you can control is your response — and this response matters. You can respond to the same event with anxiety or anger, or you can respond with peace and calmness. Let’s figure out how. The Habits of Calmness These are the habits to develop that will help you develop calmness (based on my experience): A calm morning ritual. Many people rush through their mornings, starting the day out in a stressful rush. I wake up a little earlier (5 a.m. these days, though that changes), and start with a little meditation, then a few yoga poses. I then start writing, before I let the noise in. Exercise is another compo...
Source: Zen Habits - Category: Life Coaches Authors: Tags: Habits Happiness Source Type: blogs