Inner Peace

What a contrary world we live in! We long for peace on earth but often forget to seek inner peace. Why does this happen repeatedly? Partly it is because the outer world is filled with many distractions: some pleasant and some not. These distractions can divert our minds from facing an important reality: the misconceptions and denials in our thinking. If we are too busy blaming others for our misery or too busy seeking pleasures as a quick fix to the real issues, then we get stuck.

The mind can behave like a wild mustang running free, sometimes dangerously and just as hard to tame. And yet our minds are also well trained to make quick judgments--undoubtedly a useful trait for survival from primitive times. However, judgments of our time are not only based on avoiding physical harm or death but also on protecting our self-identity. Our self-identity gets shaped by our fears, our interpretations, our beliefs and values, both cultural and spiritual. Perceptions of self and the outer world are also colored through the observations we make of our caregivers and other authority figures and by schooling. This fact is problematic if we are unaware of these influences on our thinking. Without awareness, our sense of right and wrong can easily be expressed as moralistic judgments that are not necessarily based on truth. What clue can help us perceive error in our thoughts? Our emotions. When we judge or diagnose others or ourselves what emotion surfaces first? Is it love, peace, or joy? If not, then know, we are missing the mark on the target of truth.

When I notice my own damning thoughts, I ask myself, “Is this where my loyalty belongs?” Always the answer for me is, “No.” But that doesn’t mean I automatically let go of my judgments because I do derive a certain pleasure from thinking I’m right. The gravity of self-righteousness can pull very strongly. So, I ask again, “What do I really want to be loyal to. What gives me the most love?”

The answer is found within me. My inner divine spirit is my source of divine truth. So, I ask my spirit to show me the errors in my thinking and I reaffirm my commitment to the divine way. It is rare that I get an actual message from my spirit. The answers generally arrive in life experiences yet to come. But because I asked, I am paying attention and so I learn. And like most lessons, repetition is needed. You’ve heard the phrase, “practice makes perfect.” That is not always true if our attitude is unspiritual. A better expression that I've learned is “practice makes permanent.” It matters how we do things, so listen to the indwelling spirit to learn the divine way.

Please don’t feel guilty about your imperfections. Simply understand that we are spiritual children and it takes time to grow up. Our divine Father and Mother will not cheat us of our childhood. They want us to enjoy it. And know this: our impatience will not speed up the process of our perfecting. Though we may ask, our divine parents will not give in to our desire for a quick fix. All needs to happen in divine order. Growing spiritually is a choice we make repeatedly. It serves us better to realize that mistakes, disappointments, heartaches, and conflicts are opportunities for growth. We change this world by changing ourselves. Do you want peace on earth? Then join me and find peace in yourself.

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