Article September 12, 2011 Issue

The benefits of keeping calm

Liselotte Arnold

Some years ago a fitter laid new vinyl cover in a kitchen of a flat I let. I had been told in the carpet shop where I bought the vinyl to pay him after he completed his job. When he gave me his bill I was rather busy and he seemed to be in a hurry. Without checking the extras he had added I gave him a check. Later I found he had overcharged me. Also, I had not liked his rushing about and wondered if he had done a good job.

Rather annoyed, I was tempted to rush to the nearby shop and tell the salesman straight away in no uncertain words! Then the thought came, “What good would this achieve?” To get rid of self-righteousness and aggressive thoughts, I reread a few sections of the Christian Science Bible Lesson I had studied early in the morning. My thoughts became focused on God and His creation. He made us all honest, kind, helpful. I became convinced that a peaceful solution can be found to all problems, big and small, when one is willing to express only Godlike qualities such as calmness, patience, kindness.

The young salesman was pleased when I said I gave the fitter the benefit of the doubt. He was not allowed to give me the fitter’s phone number or address, but made a photocopy of the bill and promised to deal with it. About a week later he phoned and asked me to come to the shop. When I entered he smiled and gave me cash for the extras I had paid. Then he added: “Usually when something goes wrong customers come into the shop shouting at me, although it is not my fault. It upsets me, but you were calm and kind and that made me feel good.”

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