May '99 TIP
Being an Island of Calm &
Skillful Communication
"Non-violence means avoiding not only external physical
violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse
to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."
--Martin Luther King Jr.
Life in these fast-paced times can seem like a no-holds-barred assault. Many people seem angry and rude, and fewer people seem to care that they're Barbarian Poster Children. The truth is, for most of us, how we respond and what we demonstrate is our choice rather than someone else's fault. It's time to take responsibility for our reactions and contributions to the world around us.
Suggestions for daily practice:
1. Decide...that today you'll be an Island of Calm, and an example of skillful communication.
2. Review...a saying, parable, poem,web site or other resource that helps you maintain a positive mindset.
3. Think...of someone from history or your acquaintances who, to you, personifies skillful communication, someone whose interpersonal ability you'd like to be known for. What is it about that person that you'd want to model?
4. Reflect...for a few moments at the start of your day on the idea of being an Island of Calm and a good role model for interpersonal communication.
5. Envision...an invisible buffer around you, like a balloon filled with light, through which unpleasant circumstances or other people's anger, frustration, fear, etc. can be observed but cannot penetrate to affect your mood.
6. Identify... at least two opportunities you have today to practice being an Island of Calm & Skillful Communication.
7. Record...your efforts in a journal or your planner (hey, you've got to do something with all that blank paper!).
If you spend much of your time angry, stressed or feeling at the mercy of outside circumstances, and find that you can't apply mindset management tools such as this, consider a stress management class or professional guidance. Life's too short to spend it stressed out!
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