Keeping Calm

Keeping Calm-Because I started to write this blog on Canada Day, I was
toying with the idea of writing about the ways that I am thankful to God for
putting me in a wonderful country like Canada. However, I kept it open and
told the Holy Spirit that, if He wanted me to write about something else,
just to let me. The day before Canada Day, the word "calm" popped into my
mind. I just knew I would write about keeping calm. Recently, I have been
working on ways of keeping myself calm in situations which, in the past,
would have caused me to be frustrated, agitated and/or irritated.

The primary way I keep myself calm is by praying in tongues. I use this
mostly, though not always, times that I can't use my computer. A lot of
times, when I am being gotten up or put to bed, I start to feel irritable.
Rather than letting my irritation show, I am trying to pray in tongues in
mind more often. When I am resting in bed in the afternoon is a time when I
often find I find myself getting agitated. At times like that, I am making
more of a conscious effort to pray to myself in tongues.

When I am up and able to use my computer, the main way I calm myself down is
by reading the Bible. If I am feeling irritable and restless, I especially
like to read scriptures on calmness, peace, being still. Stuff like that.
Other ways that I use my computer to calm myself down is writing (especially
these blogs) and my times of "entertainment". Sometimes , when I am feeling
bummed out,I can best calm myself down by losing myself in a good book or by
watching an exciting sporting event or interesting documentary. Just for a
little while.

Another thing that promotes calmness in my everyday life is my music. I have some peaceful, relaxing, tranquil music but I also have some upbeat music. I find that listening to either helps to calm me done when I am feeling irritable and agitated simply because it gets my focus back on God where it should be. Even when I am listening to classical or other instrumental, I am calmer because, in my mind, I am either praising the Lord or praying in tongues along with the tune.

Anything that distracts me from my own thoughts calms me down when I am feeling irritable and agitated or keeps me from getting that way. Visitors are a big help to keeping me calm. They talk about things other than the circumstances I face. Being read to is another thing that keeps me calm. Nothing takes my mind off my problems as much as a good book. Either being read to or doing my own reading on my computer. Outings of any kind are a calm promoter. To church, of course, but also other places.the atmosphere is different from that faces me everyday.

Whenever I start to feel frustrated, agitated, irritable and/or restless, I know that it is time for a thought check. More times than not, it is because I have allowed my thoughts to drift onto negative things. At that point, it is up to me to make a CONSCIOUS effort to pull my thoughts back on things pertaining to God. So, you see, staying calm doesn't happen automatically. I can't say I have it mastered, far from it, but, with God's help, I am working on it.