The Possibility of Peace

“When people are at peace, the world will be too.”
Prem Rawat

This time of year tends to bring with it contemplation on peace.  Doves adorn greeting cards, wishes of “peace on earth” abound, and (generally speaking) come January 1st, it's all forgotten and nothing has changed.  Why is this?  With our awareness tickled by peace holiday season after holiday season, how come nothing seemingly changes?  The answer is direction.

“Peace on earth” is a beautiful ideal and one to be worked towards for sure, but it is impossible to achieve if the direction of your focus is outward.  Peace is a spiritual constant.  It always exists and is always present. The earth, of itself, is inherently peaceful because it doesn't judge anyone or anything.   We don’t need to bring peace to the earth, we need to find peace within ourselves and live from that peaceful place.

So, how do you do that?  How can we utilize the holiday focus on peace to bring more peace into our experience?

1. Recognize the possibility of peace.  It is absolutely possible to have an unshakable inner peace.  This has been demonstrated by many saints, sages, mystics, and masters throughout time.  If one person can do it, it is available to all people.
   
   
2. Pay attention to how you feel.  Are you feeling agitated, uneasy, pissed off?  If so, you have a wonderful reminder to go within and work with bringing yourself back to a peaceful place inside.
   
   
3. Ask yourself peaceful questions.  When you notice you feel upset, ask yourself some variation on “How would I have to look at this situation differently to feel peaceful despite what is going on?”  If you sincerely ask yourself such a question, and earnestly seek for an answer, you might be surprised by how good of an answer you find.
   
   
4. Practice.  When you find your answer, follow through.  Look at the situation differently, get more information, remove yourself from it, or whatever came forward in your questioning.  
   
   

We will not have a peaceful planet until we have peaceful people.  The only way any of us can help another to be more peaceful is by being a living example.  So work your process.  Cultivate peace inside of yourself.  As you become more peaceful, your experience of the world becomes more peaceful, and those around you experience greater peace by being the presence of one who carries peace around with them.


This holiday season, give yourself the gift of greater inner peace, and give the world a more peaceful you!