Ten Days Calm
Day 1: How to Do Calm
The first and maybe most important thing to know is that it is called a practice; meditation practice, Yoga Nidra practice, etc. So by definition, you cannot and should not expect it to be perfect. Especially not the first time.
When we put the focus on something being perfect, we often lose what we really should be gaining from it.
So the best way to start is simply to get started. Listen to the recording and read the accompanying notes which will offer some explanation. You may wish to listen to the recordings more than once.
When you start to practice you may find you get distracted, maybe forgetting to put your phone on silent, or finding your mind wandering to other tasks that need to be done. This is ok. You will soon remember to turn off phones and notifications, learn to spend a minute writing down and acknowledging things that may distract you during the practice, or putting a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the bedroom door.
You may find you prefer to wear headphones, or to listen to the recordings out loud through a speaker. Maybe you have your eyes closed or maybe they are open. Perhaps you stream via bluetooth headphones so you can put your phone out of arm's reach to avoid distraction.
In terms of where you practice, the list ends only where your imagination ends. Some practices are better suited to certain locations, such as a candle meditation in a darkened room or a walking meditation somewhere you can walk. As for all ‘lying still’ practices these can usually be done in bed, on the sofa, in the car before work, sitting on a bench in the park, on a walk, or in a stressful situation as a distraction.
There is no right or wrong, only what is guided by your experience. You may find you prefer background noise, music or a completely silent room. You may prefer to sit up for comfort as lying down is painful.
We call it a practice as we have to experiment to find what works for our individual self. Rarely will a practice be perfect, but when it is, take time to consider what made it perfect and how that can be replicated next time. It may help to make notes or keep a short journal over the next ten days so you can review how you felt and what you learned.
The Fisherman and the Businessman Author unknown
One day a fisherman was laying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the hope of catching a fish. About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working hard to make a living for himself and his family. “You’re not going to catch many fish that way.” Said the businessman, “You should be working harder rather than laying on the beach.” The fisherman looked up, smiled and replied, “And what would my reward be?” “Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer. “And then what would my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, “You will make more money and you’ll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish.” “And then what would my reward be?” asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions. “You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you,” he said. “And then what would my reward be?” The businessman was getting angry. “Don’t you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let your employees catch fish for you. Once again the fisherman asked, “And what would my reward be?” The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman “Don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won’t have a care in the world!”
The story above about a fisherman and a businessman shows us how we don’t always have to strive for the most, or the best. The fisherman is content with what he has while the businessman is always looking for more, with ultimately no better outcome than the fisherman.
Calmness is not a competition, not something to work harder and harder at. Sit, be the fisherman and let it come to you. Don’t have expectations or set goals for being calm and rested, don’t force it. Be happy with what you have, with what you are doing, and then it is a bonus if you catch an extra fish and have a feast for dinner.
So how can you become more fisherman in your daily life?
Starting this journey to Ten Days Calm is your first step to becoming more fisherman. Keep a journal of all you learn over the next ten days.