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Tranquility

  • Writer: Deric Hollings
    Deric Hollings
  • Jul 23
  • 5 min read

 

What comes to mind when you hear the word “tranquility” (the quality or state of being free from agitation of mind or spirit)? According to one source:

 

The word tranquillity [also spelled tranquility] appears in numerous texts ranging from the religious writings of Buddhism—where the term passaddhi refers to tranquillity of the body, thoughts, and consciousness on the path to enlightenment—to an assortment of policy and planning guidance documents, where interpretation of the word is typically linked to engagement with the natural environment.

 

When thinking about tranquility in this context, what comes to mind? I think of stillness in a natural setting which represents unconditional acceptance (UA) in relation to an impermanent and uncertain existence.


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Of course, tranquility can also relate to the artificial environments in which so many of us find ourselves. When contemplating the concept in this way, I think of the 2004 electronic dance music (EDM) track “Tranquility” by Mark Otten.

 

Customary of trance songs, the track varies in range by beginning slowly, accelerating, slowing to a breakdown beat, and then accelerating again. Listening to the song, I can artificially create a world within my mind as “Tranquility” plays – one in which I acquire stillness in the moment.

 

The ability to experience a tranquil mindset, whether regarding natural or artificial environments, remains in alignment with practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). In specific, the capacity to practice principles of Stoicism is a matter of UA, about which one source states:

 

In order to harden ourselves to negativity and achieve tranquility, we need to realize that most of the events of our lives are outside of our control, that even when we have some control over an event, the most we can do is give it our best effort, and that the only thing we have complete control over is our interpretations of events, so why not interpret them as positively as possible.

 

Take note of the hardening factor from that citation, as I’ll address it shortly. I suppose that to some people tranquility relates to delusion (a persistent false belief, regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self, which is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary).

 

As an example, you’re stuck in traffic and you rationalize that rather than being frustrating, annoying, or disappointing, your irrational beliefs about the event result in joyousness to be running late for an appointment. That sort of thinking isn’t both logical and reasonable (rational).

 

Similarly, that’s not what tranquility from a UA perspective is about. While it’s true that, as one source states, “Achieving tranquility isn’t about controlling the external world, but rather, it was about mastering your underlying philosophy of life,” tranquility isn’t a delusional experience.

 

Instead, when sitting in traffic while running late for an appointment, tranquility is a matter of remaining calmly annoyed rather than self-disturbingly irate. Personally, playing Otten’s track “Tranquility” in such a moment and reminding myself that “this, too, shall pass” is tranquil.

 

Thus, Stoicism is about hardening oneself to become resilient when faced with undesirable events. As such, I can sit in traffic on many occasions and keep from upsetting myself with unproductive beliefs. Helpfully, so can you.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As the world’s foremost EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters. 

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

 

References:

Apple Music. (n.d.). Mark Otten. Apple Inc. Retrieved from https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mark-otten/43418928

Burton, M. (2016, January 9). ‘Stoic resilience & path to pranquillity’ by Michael Burton. Modern Stoicism. Retrieved from https://modernstoicism.com/stoic-resilience-path-to-tranquillity-by-michael-burton/

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Mark Otten – Topic. (2014, November 23). Tranquility (Original Mix) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/UX1WfZy0uMI?si=Mn0IittQwaGarnJe

Olson, A. (n.d.). Using Stoicism to overcome adversity: A short guide to rational emotive behavior therapy. Retrieved from https://aaronolson.blog/books/using-stoicism-to-overcome-adversity/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Passaddhi. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passaddhi

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tranquillity. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquillity

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