Instructions for Borrowing Calm

Start by making a little space for yourself.

This isn’t about tidying your room,

or about adjusting how you sit or stand.

Relax your jaw, as if you’re settling into a chair

after holding onto something for too long.

Let your shoulders drop and stop holding tension.

Take a breath and let it be natural.

Don’t try to change it.

Breathe as if you’re not trying

to explain anything to anyone.

Let your attention rest on something simple:

like the feeling of your feet on the floor,

the quiet hum in the room,

or the way the light comes into the room.

If thoughts come up, just notice them and thank them.

They aren’t bad.

You can let them wait nearby for now.

Don’t bring up anything dramatic.

No big wins or losses.

Pick a small memory you never really named.

a spoon warming up in tea,

a bus that showed up early,

or the quiet moment before someone knocks.

Hold this memory gently.

If you try to keep it too tightly, it might slip away.

Now, let a little sense of time in.

Just think about the next five minutes.

Picture those minutes coming without any stress.

Imagine yourself meeting them calmly.

If you don’t feel calm, that’s okay.

You don’t need to fix anything.

Calm often shows up when you’re not looking for it.

Instead, just notice what’s around you:

like an itch behind your ear,

a to-do list forming in your mind,

or the urge to see if this is working.

These are all signs that you’re getting close.

Don’t rush to react to them.

Let your expectations drop just a little.

And then a little more.

It’s a little like dimming the lights in a room,

where you feel comfortable.

If a thought keeps telling you that this should feel better,

just imagine writing it down in your mind and setting it aside.

You can come back to it later if you want.

There’s no need to rush.

Later will still be waiting for you.

Let the quiet feel a bit uneven.

Let it come and go in waves.

Calm isn’t always steady.

It just gives you a little more space.

It can include the sound of traffic,

your neighbour’s laughter,

or even your own heartbeat, just going about its work.

When you’re ready to finish,

don’t try to take anything with you.

Calm isn’t something you can hold onto always.

It’s more like a loan that quietly ends.

Come back to this whenever you need.

You don’t have to do it every day or stick to a schedule.

Just whenever you remember

that you can approach your feelings

without needing to hold onto them.

When you’re done, close the door softly behind you.

There’s nothing you need to lock away.