You Do Not Have to Chase Calm

I spend a lot of my days trying to get things done, believing that once they’re done, I’ll finally arrive at a “good” place. That calm will come after the chaos. That satisfaction will follow completion. But there is always more to do. Always something else that triggers my mind into a frenzy.

And in those moments, I’m reminded that calm is not something I arrive at. It’s something I choose. I choose to breathe. I choose to slow down. And I have to choose it again and again, moment by moment.

What I find fascinating is that when I force calm, it backfires. That’s when my ADHD tendencies get worse—my mind gets louder, more restless, more giddy. But when I stop trying to control my thoughts and simply let go, my breathing settles. And slowly, my mind follows.

Still, this is easier said than done—especially for an overthinker like me. I’m naturally harder on myself than anyone else. And because of that, I’m constantly having to retrain my mind to release the illusion that I can control outcomes.

Nothing I hold belongs to me. Maybe for a while—but nothing in this world is guaranteed. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.

Calm, for me, comes from this knowledge. From knowing that everything will be alright—whether or not I like the outcome. None of my plans are better than the design of the One who knows me better than I know myself. My Creator. My Designer. The Author of my life.

Every hardship. Every tear. Every delay—they all benefit me in ways I can’t always see. And not everything that pleases me is good for me. This truth is the foundation of my calm.

I don’t have to chase anything. All I have to do is return to my Creator and keep relinquishing the control I’m always tempted to take back. Because the only time I truly feel miserable is when I convince myself I can do better than God.

Continue the Reflection

This entry is part of Peace in the Chaos — a body of work exploring steadiness, restraint, and faith in an unsteady world.

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