Contagious Calm.... Catch it.

“Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it.” 

~Unknown

I remember it like it was yesterday. Flying out of L.A. during a violent storm....

And this was back in the days when I was not well acquainted with thunderstorms and their ability to diminish quickly. We were just over the California border, going toward Colorado, and the whole plane started bouncing. There were a few occasional shrieks and lots of worried faces. I was in a window seat, feeling a little shaky as I have never been what I would call a carefree flyer. I looked to my right, and my eyes met with something I did not expect. A very pleasant looking face on my co-traveler. A middle-aged woman (older than me at the time) who had vibrant eyes and a quiet smile. She saw my terror and remarked, "Now isn't this something? You'll have a good story to tell your guy when you land." I chuckled and said something about how I rather I didn't. We both laughed together and started a conversation. While the storm continued, we did not stop our pleasant conversation. Our voices resonated throughout the quiet plane as everyone waited for the next bolt of lightning to hit us.

But then, I noticed something. Other people started chuckling and talking together.

Even though the same bumpy and spectacular experience continued, our calm conversation seemed to be spreading. After about 20 minutes, the storm passed, and the Flight Attendants came around to offer free drinks. The couple in front of us turned to tell me and my co-travelers how much we had helped them to calm down. Soon a few others chimed in the same thing. I laughed and told them that I was every bit as scared as they were and my seemingly calm seatmate admitted the same!

It was a surreal experience, but it became apparent to me that calmness was contagious, even if I was only faking it.

My conversation with the woman next to me who had cleared her mind of what was happening around us helped me to clear my mind too. A calm, clear mind is often said to be like a still pond under a full moon. Unfortunately, our minds are not always clear. The surface is full of ripples that make it hard to see the bottom and distort the image of the moon. While these ripples are sometimes created by the wind or the environment, most of them are caused by rocks dropped into the pond.  Our rocks are created in our minds. They are emotions like anger, hatred, or fear. Often without realizing it we are always throwing these stones into our "ponds" - our thoughts - never letting them return to stillness. 

That day, I stopped for a minute and didn't keep throwing rocks. I wanted to, but I stopped instead.The waves calmed down on their own. And the stillness spread throughout those around us. 

I still think about that flight from time to time, but mostly when I’m flying. Perhaps I'll start practicing seeing a rock in my hand and see myself setting it down without a ripple.

I will catch some calm and let it spread.

It's contagious you know...

Cheers.