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I have been practicing this exercise since November 13th.
I consider this the basic and most necessary exercise for me for the current period. Because it is the ability to be in a calm presence that allows you to avoid unnecessary stress and effectively use your resources (mental, mental, physical, financial, emotional, etc.)
My work with this exercise was divided into two stages:
- Practicing the external manifestation of calm presence.
- Awareness of the depth of this exercise and work with the internal state.
So, in more detail:
At the first stage working off was engaged in the control of the external manifestation of a calm presence: a calm face, a body without rattling, even breathing. There were attempts to work out the exercise separately: I followed the face, body, corrected the condition.
There were successes, but one-time. I came across difficulties in the form of bodily clamps, emotional outbursts, fuss.
And I came to the conclusion that it would be more effective for me to supplement this exercise with other exercises that will allow me to enter the Calm presence.
I chose Relaxation, Posture, Emile Coué Method, Breathing. And I combined it all and put it in 10-minute breaks.
It turned out to be effective: the clock reminds me of the end of the hour with a sound signal, I leave work, do a little exercise, relax, breathe, check my posture near the wall, pronounce Emil’s words, and after that I walk along the corridor. And in these remaining 3-5 minutes I am in a Calm presence: face, body, breathing are calm.
Thanks to this approach, he became more calm, measured and effective in his actions. He began to hurry slowly.
The second stage
This was the realization while watching the October session.
I watched as the students did the exercise of looking at each other in a calm presence. They seem to be standing still, not moving. Many keep their posture — well done. Almost everyone has a straight face.
But some wanted to say: «I do not believe.» There was a vague feeling that something was wrong here. And suddenly I realized: eyes! Some students «floated away». It was evident that they had gone into their thoughts, sensations.
Everything, the chain is lined up!
The name of the exercise consists of two words: Calm and Presence.
Calmness is the outward manifestation of calmness.
Presence is being here and now. To see the interlocutor, is with him, to hear what is happening nearby, around.
And if he swam, went into his experiences, feelings, this is about something else. This is about a calm, but not a presence.
To the point, I recalled footage from Fight Club, where the hero of Edward Norton, having mastered the techniques of avoiding pain (a blue ice cave), suddenly realizes that he is moving away from reality, from pain. But it is pointless to constantly run away, you need to face the pain, live it. And this realization changes his outlook.
I realized this — it became easy, everything turned out to be in its place. I understand what needs to be worked on.
I look further at the session, and I get confirmation of my thoughts. Nikolai Ivanovich gives new input data on the look, sensation of sounds around, movements. Returns to reality. You are here with this person. I rejoiced! It’s nice to realize, and then get confirmation of your thoughts: on the right track — dude!
Further in the session there were discussions of the correctness of this state.
I chose for myself the understanding of the state of Calm presence, which can be represented as follows:
I am the smooth surface of a calm forest lake. In me, as in a clean mirror, everything that happens around me is reflected. But inside I am serene. And no matter what happens, the surface is preserved, thanks to inner serenity. At the same time, I am aware of what is happening inside me. I see and realize what is happening around me and perceive it as it is, without speculation and conjecture.
I am here and now.
And of my own free will, for certain tasks, I can switch my attention from the outside world to the inside. But at this time, the surface remains smooth, and inner serenity remains serenity.
Realizing my way of working out this exercise, I came to the conclusions:
- The exercise consists of two parts: Calm (showing calmness) and Presence (being here and now, observing the obvious without speculation and personal boundaries)
- It is easier to practice the exercise in conjunction with other exercises. I chose the link: Calm Presence, Relaxation, Posture, Emile Coué Method, Breathing.
- It is easier to start with the external manifestation, with the Calm. For me, this is the leveling of the surface of the lake, because. the outward manifestations of anxiety (body rattling, shortness of breath, wandering eyes, bent shoulders) are ripples on the lake. With such a surface of the lake, its reflection will be incorrect. And accordingly, there is no need to talk about the presence here and now.
Who will benefit from my experience, I will be glad.
Take it, use it, earn your Calm Presence!