Tranquility
by Wes Fessler

There are places more restful to the mind than sleep, more quiet than worldly silence--free from subconscious background noise and concerns both great and small. Tranquility is a peace of mind that refreshes the soul and invigorates the mind by allowing it time away from constant demands that responsibility requires of the brain. It is important from time to time to seek out the tranquil places of the mind--the calm, serene voids that allow one to unplug from all unpleasantness and to feel completely at ease.

Shutting Down
Tranquility is not a feeling that is achieved in the presence of everyday stressors, but by fleeing from anything and everything that in anyway promotes stress. Finding tranquility is a process that requires one to concentrate most pointedly on not concentrating at all. Thought is both the ally and the enemy of tranquility. To find true peace of mind, one must be able to let go of every distracting thought and focus only on calming and soothing thoughts of relaxation. While some would suggest yoga, or meditation as conduits by which to achieve such a state of peace, some (like me) find that focusing on such practices can itself be a significant distraction from finding peace. It is not necessary to engage in practices that make one uncomfortable to find peace, and one should never turn to drugs in the search for tranquility. All it takes to find the most peaceful places of one's mind is to allow oneself to completely shut down (temporarily) from any need for responsibility. By forgetting about fears, bills, phones, or appointments one can be well on the way to a calm and quiet place in the mind where tranquility becomes its own reward.

Comfort is Key
Find a position that allows complete relaxation. Whether it is sitting or lying down, the most important aspect is that it allows the body freedom from any irritation or discomfort whatsoever. Scratch any itches, remove any wrinkles, and be sure the temperature is ideal by applying or removing blankets.

Clearing Out the Worries
When all physical distractions have been removed, the difficult part begins...the process of freeing the mind of responsibility. The journey to tranquility requires a conscious effort to remove unpleasant and even mildly distracting thoughts by replacing them with pleasant and soothing ones. It is amazing how many thoughts of responsibility linger in a mind that is attempting to shut down. It is a process of turning off the distractions one by one and allowing calm and peace to take their place. Don't worry, the worries will all come back on their own in short order, but the idea is to temporarily force them to occupy a different space than the blissful thoughts that are needed for the moment. Peel away the layers of life, and allow the mind to slip into a quiet place that exists only in the absence of worry.

Enjoy It While You Can
As the comfort of body and mind gain control of their environment, and as the process of shedding responsible thoughts continues, the soothing quiet of the mind known as tranquility can be found and enjoyed for as long as possible. The mind is a powerful thing--built to handle vast amounts of information, and to process complex and stressful emotions, but at times it is refreshing to shut it all down and to process only thoughts of stress-free calm serenity. Such a journey to the few calm and quiet places of the mind allows one to remember that worry and tension do not have to dominate every aspect of one's life. There is a place for weary minds find comfort and freedom from the uncertainties and stresses of every day life.