Be calm
“Calmness is power.”
— James Allen
Reflection
“Calmness is power.” James Allen compresses a lifetime of emotional wisdom into four words. Calmness is not indifference, and it is not weakness. It is the steady strength that allows you to see clearly, choose wisely, and act deliberately when everything around you is shaking.
Think about the times you have regretted your words or decisions most. They were usually moments when you were swept away by anger, fear, or panic. In those moments, your reactions drove you; you were not driving them. Calmness does the opposite. It gives you space between what happens and how you respond. That space is where wisdom lives.
You are not born calm or frantic. You train one or the other by the way you handle everyday pressures. Constantly rushing, doom‑scrolling, or rehearsing worst‑case scenarios feeds a restless mind. Turning down the noise, breathing deeply, and remembering that God is still God feeds calm. Over time, those small choices form a habit of inner stillness.
Calm people are not those with the easiest lives. They are those who have decided not to let life dictate the temperature of their hearts. They learn to anchor their thoughts in truth rather than turbulence. And when storms inevitably come, that hidden strength quietly becomes a blessing to everyone around them.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Notice one situation today where you would normally react quickly, and instead pause, breathe, and respond slowly.
- Reduce one source of constant noise or agitation—news, social media, or background chatter—for the next 24 hours.
- Pray a short, simple prayer whenever you feel tension rising: “Lord, steady my heart and clear my mind.”
One Question To Ponder
If someone watched only how you respond under pressure, would they say your inner life is ruled more by panic or by calm?
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