How to Find Calm Without Escaping the Chaos
There are moments when you just need to let go. I love the idea of letting go, of slowing down. Today, I’m sitting in a beautiful bay—Elizabeth Bay Park, to be exact. The weather is perfect, spring is in the air, and I enjoy coming here after work. It’s a quiet place, especially during the week, and it helps me decompress, take a step back from my life, and recharge.
But it’s not just about rest. These moments help me think about strategy, about the things that aren’t going so well. Sometimes, I don’t feel happy. Not exactly depressed, but I have those “down” moments where I’m not satisfied with what I’m doing. I feel like I’m never doing enough.
I’ve talked about this before—about not falling into the trap of the rat race. We always want to do more, and we’re rarely satisfied. That’s my problem: I’m rarely satisfied with myself. On one hand, it pushes me to go further, but on the other, it means I’m never content. No matter how much I do, it’s never enough. That’s dangerous. At some point, you have to be happy with what you have, to be grateful for what’s already there.
I’ve noticed that this feeling isn’t the same everywhere. For example, in the Philippines, people smile all the time. Life there is tough compared to Western standards—houses get destroyed by tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons. There’s a lot of poverty, people work six days a week for very little pay, and vacations are rare. Yet, they keep smiling. Sometimes, it’s the only thing they can do. Even when entire cities lose electricity for months, they keep going. They don’t revolt, they don’t complain, because that would only drag them down further. Instead, they focus on the positive things they still have. They’re incredibly resilient, and that’s a lesson worth following.
Of course, you should always look for ways to improve your life. That’s why so many Filipinos move to Canada, Australia, or New Zealand—they make huge sacrifices for a better future for their children. But there’s also something to learn from their attitude: even if you’re not satisfied, you can still be happy with where you are and what you have, especially if you’re not living in a war zone.
When things get tough, people look for a glimmer of hope. That hope gives you the energy to climb higher, to keep going. Without positivity, you won’t have the strength to take the next step. So yes, you might never be fully satisfied, but sometimes you just need to sit down, rest, and look at the world around you. I love wide-open views—they help me realize how much space and possibility there is. I can look around and think, “I’m happy to be here, right now.” Enjoy the present moment instead of thinking about regrets or what could have been. Being stuck in the past only takes you further away from now.
Take time to do nothing. Moments of calm, moments of emptiness, are important. They help you recharge. If you’re always doing more, always staring at a screen, you miss out on real life. Life is more than a screen—it’s about being here, now. Even if you live in a small apartment in the suburbs, you can always find something positive. Maybe it’s a nice piece of furniture, a pet, or just a small corner you like. Be grateful for that.
Gratitude is a habit I started in 2020, and it’s changed everything for me. Every day, I leave a five-star review for a place or an app I like, and I say why I liked it. Even if the service wasn’t perfect, I find something good to mention. If there’s something to improve, I use the “sandwich” method: start with something positive, mention what could be better, and end with another good point.
For example, I created an app called MealSnap. It lets you take a photo of any meal, and it tells you about the fat, sugar, and ingredients. It even gives you a nutrition score. Someone left a one-star review just because it doesn’t integrate with Apple Health. That’s common—people focus on what’s missing and ignore what’s good. But you can do the opposite: highlight what you liked, suggest improvements, and thank the creator. Every day, spend five minutes leaving a positive review for something you appreciate. It makes you feel better—I’ve been doing it for five years, and it’s made a real difference.
Today’s thoughts are a bit of a free-flow, but the main idea is this: take time to slow down, step back, and enjoy where you are. Even if you’re never satisfied, look at what you’ve already accomplished. Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to who you were yesterday or a year ago. When you compare your inside to someone else’s outside, you’re not being fair to yourself. If you want to improve, don’t give up too quickly. Compare yourself to your past self, not to strangers.
Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have. — Rabbi Hyman Schachtel
Gratitude turns what we have into enough. — Anonymous
Key Takeaways
- Take time to slow down and let go—even if life feels chaotic.
- Practice gratitude daily, even for small things.
- Compare yourself to your past self, not to others.
- Enjoy the present moment instead of dwelling on regrets.
- Find something positive in your surroundings, no matter where you are.
Action Steps
- Spend five minutes each day leaving a positive review or expressing gratitude.
- Identify one thing you appreciate about your current environment.
- Take a break from screens and enjoy a moment of calm.
Reflection
What small thing can you appreciate right now? When was the last time you compared yourself to your past self instead of someone else?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Mental-Health #Mindfulness #Money #Productivity #Relaxation #Self Care #Self-Transcendence #Stress Management #Tasks