Have you ever been so upset that you can’t think straight, your mind moving in zigs and zags. When this happens to me an observer might see me quickly turning from one thing to the next with no one thing seeming capable of holding my attention.
Numerous metaphors come to mind, some leave me laughing at myself even when the precipitating circumstance is not funny.
But being upset is just one of the emotions that reminds you that life is full of challenges and can shatter your equanimity — anger, disappointment and frustration among them.
Not having any constructive way to resolve anger can shatter your sense of calm. This is especially true if the precipitating circumstance is recurring — not to mention the precipitator is someone who is regularly present in your life.
Disappointments large and small might also disrupt. It may seem counter intuitive but if you have mastered not slipping into sadness, recurring disappointment may also trigger a feeling of being alone, lost and drifting through life.
Most notable among my triggers are unsolvable problems. I can slide easily into a frazzled state when faced with problems that refuse to be solved. It does not surprise me that some unknown person coined the term beating your head against a wall. Can you identify with this situation? I certainly can. This is particularly acute for natural problem solvers or those who have been trained to analyze and remediate problem situations.
Life devoid of frazzling situations or people might be too fantastical. So, where does that leave us?
Over the years I have sampled many antidotes. Until I landed on quietude and meditation I was the hapless victim of life’s frazzles. Without the quiet time that I build into both the beginning and end of my day, I would likely be spinning like a top far too often.
Quiet time and meditation are reset buttons — good for the body, mind and soul. While they can’t eliminate the frazzling circumstances in life, they do place them into a better perspective. They induce calm when all other strategies fail.
If you are like me and find that there are far too many situations and people that leave you frazzled, try adding quiet time in your day. I think you’ll find that it is not only a good way to decompress, but that it is as essential as the air you breathe and the water you drink.
