Staying steady

Have you ever been in a situation that was difficult and somebody added to the difficulty by freaking out? Maybe you were the person who freaked out! What would happen if you maintained your equanimity? Wouldn't that make things better for all concerned? A great teacher of our day speaks to this in the following passage from his book Love in Action:

Without doing anything, things can sometimes go more smoothly just because of our peaceful presence. In a small boat when a storm comes, if one person remains solid and calm, others will not panic and the boat is more likely to stay afloat.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Let's all make a commitment to be a steady presence today in whatever situation we find ourselves.