“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Eleanor Roosevelt
I’ve had an ongoing discussion recently with a friend of mine regarding “why peace?” Why is it so important to me? When did it start? I’m not of the “hippie” generation, thus to be younger and fully embrace the concept isn’t commonplace for my Gen X peeps. And for me, it isn’t as much about wanting to state that I’m anti-war, though really, aren’t we all? Well may be not the companies who produce the weapons that soldiers use in war, but overall, wouldn’t most of us state that we ‘want’ peace?
For me, it’s much more about a deep, introspective journey with self. Trying, daily, to find my path, and live my life more simply, more fully, to where the stressors of life bother me less, and my ability to be content becomes more of a reality rather than an aspiration of mine.
So where did it start? Amidst of the chaos of my life somewhere in raising children, trying to be a good wife, battling issues with my own self esteem and body image, trying to figure out what I was really meant to be doing in life, dealing with hurts from friends/family, heartache over losing friends/family members to cancer and other devastating illnesses, financial burdens and uncertainties…somewhere in there….I started the journey.
I state journey…because it is just that. A journey. I’m curious to learn how some view me. I understand and am fully cognizant of my own personal journey, sometimes dark and morose, but forget that I’ve come such a long way and the person I once was- the person filled with self-doubt and insecurities, isn’t the person I am today (most days). I forget that while most may see me as this calm, peaceful, steady and compassionate person, I wasn’t always that way. There are days in clinical practice, or with my un-official therapeutic conversations with my running friends that I need to remind both myself and the others around me while I really am calm, peaceful, steady and compassionate now, it is something I continue to work at daily.
So it made me think about the concept of working at something that matters. Why do so many in our world fail to understand the concept of working towards what matters to us? When did we lose the value or concept of “work”? When did people start to think that a “happy/peaceful life” should be just handed to them without having to actually work for it?
“Nothing will work unless you do.” Maya Angelou.
So my advice to people, both clinically and personally, if one wants to have a peaceful/happy life, one needs to work for it. Daily.
Decide what’s important in you life.
Eliminate what no longer suits you.
Focus on service to others.
Find an exercise to do daily (ideally) to process your excess stress/energy
Spend time daily in prayer or mediation. Daily.
Take care of your body. Eat what nourishes you, not always what is easy and available.
Practice a mindset of gratitude.
Never give up finding your own path…..
I remember reading somewhere that it matters less what happens in our life and more what we choose to do with it. We could all give up and become bitter and resentful and angry for the myriad of hardships or disservice we experience in life….or we could choose to practice finding peace and happiness for the many gifts, wonders, beauties, and joys in life.
Want to guess which choice I’m making today?
Peace……in your journey today and always…..