Quote:

              “You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.”
~Pema Chödrön

Thoughts:

              There’s no escaping our emotions. They are a part of us and make us who we are. But they don’t have to define us. For example, I sometimes am short tempered and will yell before thinking. I am not, however, an angry person. I can choose to let my lizard brain take over; or I can stop, take a breath, and try again, letting my prefrontal cortex regain control. I am the sky. No matter how I look to those around me, I will always be who I am. Sometimes storms roll in and change my countenance, but the fact remains, I am who I am. The storm will pass, and I will still be who I am.

Application:

              As noted above, there are times when our emotions get the best of us. Rather than wallow in guilt or shame, take a moment for yourself. Find something that brings you peace. Do that for a few minutes and seek forgiveness.

              If you’ve been following my blog, you know I love to knit and crochet. This is what I turn to when I am in need of peace. I sit and knit and breath and let myself find calm. Make sure what you find, however, isn’t something that you struggle with—no matter how much you enjoy it. This time isn’t for you to improve in a skill, but to relax and find peace, not frustration.

              How do you find calm amidst the storms of life? Leave a comment below with your calming practices.