Calmness of Mind

Do you know, I was reading today where Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York,
wrote, My father used to say to me, whenever you get in a jam, whenever you get into
a crisis or an emergency, become the calmest person in the room and you will be able
to figure your way out of it. Boy, is that ever true.

See, a crisis, an emergency, a jam, it usually scrambles our brain. It is something that is
happening suddenly and our brain goes six ways to Sunday. Confusion sets in. You will
never see the answer to a situation when you are in a confused state. How did J ames
Allen put it? Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of
long and patient effort in self-control.

See, Rudy Giuliani gained from his fathers wisdom. He gained from his fathers wisdom,
I am gaining from his wisdom, I am passing that wisdom on to you. When you get into a
jam today, understand that the jam or emergency is a question, and you say, What
should I do? Well the answer comes with the question. Be very calm. It is the flip side of
the coin: it is like up, down; hot, cold; in, out; question, answer. Calmness of mind. Get in
to J ames Allens little book, As a Man Thinketh. Go right to the last chapter on Serenity.
Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels that helps us out of a jam. Giulianis dad
was right. Spend some time thinking about that. Set up a situation where you start
practicing it.