Days are hectic. The good news is that in those moments when the fabric of our peace feels like it is unraveling, we can have the greatest impact on our lives and solidify a joyful, loving way of being. Technology allows us to receive and send information immediately. Often, instead of feeling we have more time, we may feel we have less due to the need to communicate in seconds, not minutes or hours. Instead of more free time and time to relax, we rise to the challenge of instant communication and do more. We work more than ever and multitask constantly. Let’s face it we also live in a time of unrest, upheaval, and uncertainty, not just here, but across the globe. It can be challenging to find a moment of peace. The key to those challenging moments is to recognize and understand that the ability to choose joy is in you. That no matter what is happening around you, only you can choose how to feel and what to feel.  You may feel frantic, you may feel the situation is too tragic for joy. No matter, you can still relax, and let the energy flow. You’ll feel better, you’ll feel peace. We sometimes think that joy is lollipops and gumdrops. Sometimes it is enough to just be the calm center of the storm. To experience acceptance. To have peace and to experience it for your own good and the good of others.

Some tips for Maintaining Focus

1. Stop for a moment, breathe deeply, and look for the reality of the situation vs the assumptions (you or others may have) of what is happening, often, almost always, our assumptions about what is happening are dead wrong. Ask yourself, or others, what is happening here? Is this what I think it is, or could it be happening for another reason? Is that person really doing what I think they are doing? Chances are the situation is happening for a reason that had nothing to do with your or anyone else’s assumptions.

2. Once you’ve stopped and understood the situation, or have relaxed and feel calmer, then take action to improve it. Say something positive, do something to change the situation for the better, or simply just walk away.  The point is to stop the focus on the thing that is causing you to stress out in the moment.

3. Let the situation go and move on to a positive moment, situation, activity. The important thing here is to change your focus and consciously create peace, joy, or happiness for yourself and those around you. Choose to be the strong center that makes others feel safer, happier, and less confrontational.