Be The Peace You Want To See

You may have seen that someplace before. I didn’t make it up and it’s not one of those lofty, airy-fairy ideas that is impossible to reach. If you’re reading this, the message is for you. Keep reading. It’s possible to be peace – at least some of the time and every little bit counts.

Each and every time you’re able to feel peaceful adds to the peace in the world. Each and every time you’re fearful adds to the fear in the world. You count. Your feelings count. What you project counts. Maybe you can’t be peaceful every minute, but, every minute you can be peaceful counts.

Maybe you feel like you have no control over what happens out there in the world. It could be true. You may have caused a rumble or two in your house but you probably didn’t cause one of the earthquakes that are happening in the world today.

The one thing you and only you have control over is yourself. The Creator gave you free will which means that you get to control you which also means that no one else has that right nor do you get to control anyone else. Works both ways.

Think about these suggestions for being peace. They work for me. You may want to try them.

Start first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed. Decide what kind of a day you want to have. Every day you wake up on the right side of the grass you get to determine your day. You could decide to be happy or bite someone’s head off or stretch your capacity for calmness.

Too late you say! You’re already having your first cup of coffee or tea or shake and you forgot to set your intention. Start now. If you’re breathing its not too late. Decide if you want to look at the up side or the down side.

Really! You know that old saying about the cup being half full or half empty. It’s true! How do you want to perceive it? Will your day be partly cloudy or partly sunny? Since it’s your life you get to choose.

One way I stay peaceful is to give the other guy a break. Say a driver cuts me off in traffic. I used to really get upset over that. But, I’ve cut in front of cars myself. So, when someone does it to me perhaps they’re in a really big hurry because someone needs their help, or they didn’t notice I was there. I don’t take it personal which means I have no reason to get mad.

Another one is when you’re kept waiting. There could be a ton of reasons why. One of the secrets to patience is doing something else in the meantime. Now a days when I have the occasion to wait I see it as another chance to take a deep breath or two and allow my body to relax. Yes, I do. I call it a mini-med. You could take that as a medication or a meditation. Either way deep breathing WILL cause you to relax and feel calmer. We’re not talking about hyperventilating we’re talking about slow deep breaths in and long exhales.

How about if you’re called an idiot, or stupid, or clumsy? You can’t do anything about another person’s opinion but you don’t have to believe them. When Viktor Frankel was in a Nazi concentration camp suffering torture every day he remarked, “You can’t make me hate you.” He would not let them into his head.

Another opinion is another opinion. An opinion and a preference is a personal matter. You decide what’s true for you. You decide if you want to remain peaceful or do you want to get mad. Sound too simple?

I’m not talking about ignoring a situation or making believe an issue doesn’t exist. I’m saying to refuse to be upset. Be a duck instead. A duck doesn’t mind being in the rain because it doesn’t get wet. A duck does not have to dry off. The water rolls off the back of the duck. The water never gets in to wet the duck in the first place.

Next time you get cut off or have to wait, be a duck. Be the peace you want to see in the world. Be the peace you want to be.