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Viliam_Bur comments on Stupid Questions March 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: Gondolinian 03 March 2015 11:37PM

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Comment author: [deleted] 04 March 2015 03:55:56PM 4 points [-]

How does "calmness" work? Calmness in this context means that a person has an easy-going view on life, is likely to be free of stress and whatever you feel when there's chilly wind in a fall evening and you're sitting feeling tranquil (tranquility sounds like a good word)

I'm just like that (although people often tell me they think I'm feeling something else) and I wonder how does it work?

Another point of interest to me is what separates true tranquility from x-induced tranquility? I had a conversation with a coworker and she said that people who use this-and-that to feel better are trying to escape/deny something. I half-agree with it because it does make sense (although that feels a little bit like substance abuse) and half-disagree because I don't want to make judgements. I've smoked some but were also drinking alcohol at the same time and was told it's "the same high" so I don't know how smoking feels (or know how it feel, or maybe it depends on what you smoked, etc. My sample isn't exactly impressive.

So, my questions are: What makes people calm & cool? (tranquility is a way to describe it) What separates people who are naturally calm & cool from those who use other methods to achieve it?

Oh, and how stupid is this question?

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 04 March 2015 10:31:54PM 2 points [-]

What makes people calm & cool?

What works for me: relax the muscles; breathe deeply; stop the inner screaming; take time; imagine a larger context.

What separates people who are naturally calm & cool from those who use other methods to achieve it?

Probably habits. I would guess some people have a habit of doing the things like I mentioned; other people like me have to consciously remind themselves to do it.

But it also depends on the environment. It is easier to be calm if you have no real problems (unless you already have strong habits from the past when you had).