Let
there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. These insightful words
from a popular song show us where true peace begins within us.
Inner
peace begins with the daily discipline of stillness physical, mental, &
spiritual. There are infinite paths to stillness & the right path for each
of us is often unique. But the key is to be on the path. Whether by
meditation, prayer, yoga, exercise, or another practice, we each need a
doorway into inner peace each day.
So there
you are, sitting in stillness. What do you do once you sit in stillness in
order to create inner peace? One way is to practice listening to your
inner voice your intuition or highest self for guidance. The message
is always there when we listen in stillness. Another way is to observe
your current thoughts without judging them. Observation without judgment
deeply expands inner peace. Reflect deeply on your life and your choices
again, just in observation, not judgment. Let yourself surrender to
peaceful relaxation in this moment. The peace of such release will ripple
through the universe.
This all
sounds so simple and easy. Actually, the meditative process is quite easy,
but the hard part the place we most struggle is making ourselves sit
down and actually do it!
We
recently asked a group of people what they would be doing if they truly
loved themselves. Almost everyone realized that they really needed to stop
and enjoy life in simple ways. In other words, to stop processing life
through events and activities and, instead, do something just for
themselves that they really enjoyed. The moments we take to live in love,
whether reading an inspiring book, taking a meditative walk, enjoying a
garden, or looking deeply into the eyes of someone we love, bring us into
inner peace. In such living moments, inner guidance often bubbles to the
surface. New insights find pathways into our hearts that help us make more
conscious and enlightened life choices.
Such
inner peace creates core integrity with us a strength of composed
stillness that can face the enormous forces of conflict in our lives and
the world. The more we practice inner peace, the more empowered we become
as external peacemakers and peacekeepers. Our inner peace flows naturally
outward.
One
valuable way we can help create more outer peace is to remain calm in the
first sign of conflict. The temptation may be to judge, lash out, or feel
attacked, but that first moment before we respond is a powerful moment for
choosing peace, not conflict. We draw deeply on the inner core peace and
let it guide us outwardly.
As
situations of potential conflict present themselves to us perhaps a
verbal attack, judgment, belittlement, anger, or harsh disagreement, we
can move right back into that earlier practice of inner peace with
observation, not judgment. Our attitude of not judging others and choosing
instead to observe and seek understanding, speaking the language of inner
peace, opens hearts. Such calmness and understanding act as powerful peace
tools which can open the door to harmonious dialogue. The environment of
peace you create, more than your words, has the power to bring forward
resolution.
Sometimes, as peacemakers, the best response is no response. Your calmness
and a graceful exit may be the best you can do under certain
circumstances. So be it. But even in such conditions, we can leave behind
a trail of peace-nurturing footprints.
We are
not powerless as we watch news and see daily evidence of conflict or war.
Our hearts can embrace all those suffering from such conflict and we can
take action by digging our roots even more deeply into inner peace so that
our lives can expand peace within the circle of humanity we touch. We know
our actions have universal consequences so we make a conscious decision to
live as if we had been selected to serve the world as universal
peacemakers. And so, again, in humility, we go within and surrender to
peace. Yet even in isolation, we are doing this together. Think of all the
peacemaking hearts at work right now. The power of our collective peace,
right now, is inescapably transforming civilization. Welcome to the heart
of Love.
Copyright 2003 by Scott
& Shannon Peck
Sharing this Healing Message:
Feel free to share this message with others, but
please
keep it in its entirety including the copyright notice and
all information above the copyright notice.
ABOUT
THIS COURSE IN LOVE & HEALING
The
goal of the Course in Love & Healing is to raise universal
consciousness to what is possible in Love. The Course consists of a continuing series of short, illuminating
lessons offered to those who wish to receive them and is a
gift from TheLoveCenter, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing
all humanity into the heart of Love.
Feel free to copy and share this Course with others, but please do
so in its entirety. See below to
subscribe to the free e-mail edition.
If
you find this Course in Love & Healing uplifting your life
& your understanding of Love & Healing, please consider
Becoming
a Supporter of TheLoveCenter by sending a tax-free contribution of any
amount to TheLoveCenter,
PO Box 830, Solana Beach, CA 92075. Your
contributions are deeply appreciated!
We also encourage you to enjoy the many other Love treasures on
this website.
ABOUT
SCOTT & SHANNON PECK
Dr. Scott Peck & Shannon Peck are co-founders of
TheLoveCenter, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing all
humanity into the heart of Love. They are co-authors of The
Love You Deserve, Liberating
Your Magnificence,
and the 6-tape audio course All
The Love You Could Ever Want!
Shannon's new book, "Love
Heals: How to Heal Everything with Love"
will be available September, 2003. Both Scott & Shannon are Love teachers, speakers, and leaders of
the empowering
Love & Healing workshops
held in San Diego. Shannon
Peck has her degree in
Religious Studies and is a
full-time spiritual healer and teacher of healing and former prison
chaplain & TV talk show host. Dr. Scott Peck earned his Masters Degree in Education and Doctorate
in Divinity and is a former reporter, educator, advertising manager, &
real estate broker.
ARTICLES
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
All past & current articles included in this Course are posted
on this website under A
Course in Love & Healing.
T0
SUBSCRIBE
To
receive this free Course in Love & Healing, send an email to TheLoveCenter@aol.com
asking to be placed on the free subscription list. Please
include your full name and address so we can contact you if your email
ever fails to work. Your name & information will not be shared
with anyone.
Schedule
of LoveMaster
Workshops & Talks
Become
a Supporter of
TheLoveCenter
