We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. With the peace within you, you achieve peace – free of hunger and heaviness.
We all know the peaceful, settled contentment that comes from being fulfilled. Today we learn that peace comes first. It isn’t the result of fulfillment, it’s the source of fulfillment. In meditation we discover that peace is our true self. In that state of peace, there are no cravings and no lack. Needs are life-affirming and arise not out of lack, but out of abundance. In reality, our true self is simple contentment.
All Fulfillment Comes from Peace
Today’s Centering Thought is: I am living the way of peace.
Today’s Mantra: Om Shanti Om (I radiate peace.)
Center yourself to begin a quiet solitude of mind and spirit with the thought “I am living the way of peace.” Then begin to meditate by focusing on your breath and repeating the mantra: Om Shanti Om. This mantra is an affirmation that brings peace into all aspects of our lives from the inside out. Take deep breaths and with each breathe feel your mind body and spirit open just a little more to this affirmation. Each time your mind wanders come back by repeating this mantra and hold the meaning behind it: I radiate peace. Simply meditate for 20 minutes.
Today’s Journal Activities:
Write down three simple ways you can bring more peace into your life. For example, you could enjoy 5 to 10 minutes of downtime twice a day, or walk outside in the fresh air and sunshine during lunch.
Write down three everyday things that annoy or agitate you, then list the simplest ways to improve them. For example, you can walk away from stressful situations or join a carpool if your commute brings up frustration and irritability.
Reflect on and journal your ideal vision of a friendship that is comfortable, easy, filled with light and laughter, and consoling when you are down. List ways that you could make a current friendship closer to your ideal. For example, you could listen and sympathize more
Reflect further on your experience today.
Imbalance feels dissevering – agitating. The opposite of agitation is peace which is a lightness of the soul. Deep contentment comes with a moment of worry being lifted. How do we reach this peaceful moment? There is no way to peace, rather peace is the way. Often people feel that they will reach peace through a goal. However, in a state of peace there are no cravings. A life of peace involves shifts within yourself:
Start from a place for respect for everyone and look for common ground.
Uplift others rather than criticize.
Walk away from daily conflict with love.
Put words or gestures to feelings of love so it touches another person.
A life lived in peace creates a new lighter self by brining inner and outer aspirations together.
“Each one has to find his peace from within.” ― Mahatma Gandhi