The Weather You Create

My house is currently vibrating with the energy of in-laws. Between the clatter of holiday dishes, the hum of constant conversation, and the sheer density of bodies in one space, it is loud, busy, and intense.

Usually, in environments like this, I feel like a small boat in a choppy ocean—tossed around by the currents, just trying to get from one place to another. It’s easy to feel like a victim of the room’s atmosphere. But this week, amidst the noise, I’ve noticed something subtle but profound: I am not just floating in the water. I am part of the tide.

We tend to think our internal state is a reaction to the world—if the house is stressed, I get stressed. But observe closely, and you’ll see the arrow points both ways.

When I woke up this morning, I took the time to pray and meditate. I emerged from my bedroom grounded and buoyant. The result was that the chaos didn't seem to touch me. More importantly, the chaos actually settled around me. It was as if my calmness gave everyone else permission to exhale. Conversely, we all know how a single person’s foul mood can suck the oxygen out of a room faster than a vacuum.

This implies a heavy responsibility. We don't just inhabit the world; we co-create it. Our mood does not just change our perception of the world, it influences the world itself.

I’ve noticed that when I take time to connect with the divine and center myself, the world treats me differently. The clerk is kinder; the family is softer. Is it magic? No. It’s resonance. When I bring a full, unrestricted, and peaceful self to the table, the world reflects that back to me.

Whatever that grounding practice looks like for you—whether it’s prayer, silence, a walk in the woods, or deep breathing—I invite you to use it. Because when I bring a joyful and playful self, I get that back. And when I bring a crabby, antisocial self, I’ll get a face full of that.

So this morning, I stopped trying to survive the waves and decided to calm the sea. I affirmed my power to set the tone.

You are not just a passenger in your life. You are the weather. When your wind blows, it affects the winds around you.

How is your atmosphere affecting the room today?