Calm Your Mind

In this episode – Calm Your Mind . . .

Do you often find it hard to fall asleep because your mind is preoccupied with the tasks you must complete at work, chores you might have forgotten to do around the house, or a missed phone call? In other words, how can one calm their mind and find peace?

Chapter two of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale is titled "A Peaceful Mind Generates Power.” In this chapter, Peale stresses the value of clearing your mind of all thoughts and how it can help us face life's challenges. He offers several techniques to cultivate inner calmness and tranquility, including prayer, meditation, and affirmations.

In this chapter, the author suggests a technique to cultivate inner peace by taking a few moments at different times throughout the day to focus on a carefully curated set of serene thoughts. As I studied this chapter, a particular section caught my attention and made me reflect on an experience where I felt a profound peace.

Dr. Peal recommends finding a place of complete silence and visualizing the most peaceful scene you have ever witnessed, such as a breathtaking valley during the tranquil hours of dusk as the sun slowly sets and the shadows lengthen. This practice can help to evoke a sense of tranquility and calmness within you. As I read his description, a vivid memory flooded back to me instantly, and it was beyond anything I could have expected. I was filled with calm. Allow me to explain.

I’m an early riser; up by 4:30 a.m., wildness camping in the high Sierra, complete silence, and it’s dark! Carefully with my headlamp, stumbling around camp, I light my WisperLite camp stove, boil some water, make coffee, and sit quietly on a ridge next to the lake in the darkness, illuminated by millions of stars twinkling like diamonds in the night sky.

At that moment, our campsite was extraordinary, with no wind, on the north side of the crystal clear, absolutely mirrored lake. I was perched on a large rock that protruded outwards and gazed down at the lake. I was amazed that all the stars above were reflected in the water. Standing up, I walked carefully towards the edge, holding onto a tree to steady myself. For a moment, I lost my sense of orientation and felt like I was floating in space. I couldn't tell whether I was looking up or down. It was an incredible experience!

So, I asked myself, how can I recreate that scene in my mind's eye on demand? Step one – put on noise-reduction headphones, then close my eyes in the silence, and imagine that scene again, experiencing the absolute serenity of that moment.

It was Napoleon Hill who said, " What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve."

My listening friends, take a few minutes daily to find a quiet place and clear your mind. Search for an experience that brings you peace and allows you to calm your thoughts.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

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