Why being chilled is a superpower
We had a workshop this past week on the “Chilled” ice cream brand essence and one of my contributions to the session is that to be “Chilled” is a superpower.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that when you eat our ice cream, you’ll become a superhero (although that would be “cool”), but rather that the ability to not overreact or take things personally keeps your mind clear and your heart at peace, which instantly gives you power regardless of your circumstances ;-)
The biggest and most complex obstacle you will ever have to overcome is your own mind. Much like the song by U2 “Get Out Of Your Own Way” or the book “There Is No Way To Go But In” by Osho, both imply that we have the power to control how we choose to react to different situations, but often our emotions and our mind get in the way.
#Mindfulness, and learning to effectively control emotional responses to life’s unexpected challenges are key because most of our daily pain and frustration will come from the way we respond, not the way life is.
“Your mind is like this water, my friend. When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear”.—Oogway (my favourite Chilled character) said to Shifu in Kung Fu Panda ;-)
However, being chilled is easier said than done, especially when we’re under pressure or hold ourselves to a high-performance lifestyle. #Stress, relentless worry over work and life, and various forms of social anxiety are all a part of the modern way of being. Most of us just don’t feel any sense of peace.
But an easy way to reclaim your calm is to simply take a deep breath and choose not to allow another person or event to control your thoughts and emotions. You are not what happened to you. You are what you choose to become in this moment. Let go and start again.
I was angry when the Oncologist told me that he wants to go on record and that he recommends that I must do chemotherapy. I then let go and understood that he is entitled to his opinion, and I have the power to do what I felt I needed to do to successfully treat myself naturally.
Happiness is letting go of what you assume (and we all know what happens when you “ass -u -me”) your life is supposed to be like right now, and sincerely appreciating it for everything it is.
So, taking a pause and understanding that you are a human being not doing - is essential.
Being is just that … Be here. Just right here. It’s only when you add “ego” and the “mind” that circumstances are loaded with other “stuff", or the battles of yesterday and tomorrow that life gets overly complicated.
It is virtually impossible to be present and be angry at the same time because anger is about something that already happened or something we are worried will happen.
Being “Chilled” does not mean being in a place where there is no chaos, trouble, or hard realities to deal with. It means to be amid all those things and remain mentally, emotionally, and physically centered.
Be selective with your energy. If you can fix a problem, fix it. If you can’t, then accept it and change your thoughts about it. Whatever you do, don’t invest more energy than you need, tripping over something behind you… or something that only exists inside of your head.
When you are lost in worry, it is easy to mistake your worries for reality, instead of recognizing that they are just thoughts.
Remember, you alone get to choose what matters and what doesn’t. The meaning of everything in your life has precisely the meaning you give it.
Our pay offline for “Chilled” is ice cream without the drama. There is no sugar or additives so there is no “sugar rush” or health drama.
“The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life.” — Dalai Lama
You are more useful to the world and yourself if you can stay centered when everything and everyone around you may be off-balance.
#Meditation is a technique to quieten the mind. When I started my meditation practice many years ago it was tough. I have a busy mind that wants to be either in the past or future but never present. Being present is a gift and it is a “no mind“ state.
So, I learned to allow my mind to be like the sky and clouds (my thoughts) to pass by until I found that blue spot absolutely clear with no clouds to focus on which is nirvana.
“If you are looking into the emptiness, there is nothing to be reflected – or only the blue infinite sky. If it is reflected, if you feel the blue infinite sky within, you will become serene, you will find serenity. In emptiness, how can the mind function? It stops; it disappears. In the disappearance of the mind – the mind that is tense, worried, filled with thoughts that are relevant, irrelevant – in that disappearance of the mind, serenity.” - Osho, The Book of Secrets, Talk #23
We need to understand that we have the ability to own our emotions.
It takes skill and practice to pause and choose the reaction that benefits you. By doing so, you remain centred and balanced, no matter what is going on around you.
Sometimes we may need to step away from a situation to assess what the best course of action may be.
As a “Chilled” superhero, you choose to listen to your own inner guidance over everything else. You allow your intuition to guide you. Therefore, if someone acts in a way that does not align with your happiness, you simply choose to focus elsewhere that is in alignment with who you want to be.
To develop your abilities to be “Chilled”, focus on a daily meditation or self-care routine to ensure you take time each day to find stillness to tune in to your inner guidance. Remember, you alone get to choose what matters and what doesn’t. The meaning of everything in your life has precisely the meaning you give it.
#Positivity is a choice. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. And remember, being positive doesn’t mean ignoring the negative, it means overcoming the negative. There’s a big difference between the two.
What you focus on grows. Stop managing your time. Start managing your focus.
Life is too short to argue and fight. Count your blessings, value the people you love, and move on from the drama. Give yourself that power. Focus mindfully on what truly matters.
#DoingSomethingGreat is being “Chilled”.