Symptoms of Inner Peace
Peace Pilgrim
These are some of the most common symptoms of Inner Peace. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, you're doing something right!
- A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
- An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
- A loss of interest in judging other people.
- A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
- A loss of interest in conflict.
- A loss of the ability to worry.
- Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
- Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
- Frequent attacks of smiling.
- An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
A Note from the Universe
They asked for abundance, and I said, "YES! YES! YES! I know one thousand ways!" I always do.
They said, "All my friends are making money selling widgets, and heck, they don't even know the laws of the Universe. I'll make a killing! Never mind that I've never been drawn to selling, or widgets."
I knew better, so I sent them an old friend who would spark their awesome creative writing skills...they said, "No thank you, I know the law of attraction and there are widgets to sell."
So I sent a new friend who would help unlock their facilitating skills, romantic to boot, but they said, "Sorry, I must be disciplined. Here, read this book."
I even whispered in their ear, "What if you considered colors, textures and finishes?" And they thought to themselves, "Hey, once I'm rich, then I can play with colors, textures and finishes!"
Moral of the story: Never mess with the cursed hows, dang it.
You rock!
Hey, once you're "rich," what will you do? If you get my drift (yes, precisely, you're already rich...so?).
Awaken
Ralph Marston
A beautiful presentation.
Just Do Something
Steve Goodier
I once stopped behind several cars in an intersection. The winter weather was icy cold and a strong artic wind blew relentlessly. Ahead of me a young woman stood alongside the street rubbing her bare hands together and dancing in place to keep warm. Beside her rested a sign that read, "I have a baby and no food." She was obviously crying, likely from the pain of the cold wind.
Homeless and unemployed people are a common sight in many of our larger cities, and most motorists drive by without offering assistance. They have no doubt been taught that giving money fosters a dependent lifestyle, or the ready cash may be used to purchase alcohol or another substance rather than the food it was intended for. Like me, they may have been taught that one should give to a local charity or through one's church, as these institutions can help those in need far more effectively.
This, of course, is true, but I am reminded of the college students who encountered a homeless man on the sidewalk. One of the students took a couple of dollars from his wallet and handed it to the unfortunate stranger. His friend commented, "Why did you do that? He's just going to spend it on booze or drugs." The student answered, "Yeah...like we're not!"
As I waited for the light to turn, I felt conflicted about that young woman. Whether or not I should give money, she was obviously in need. And whether or not she actually had a baby really didn't seem to matter. I gave up guessing people's motives and analyzing their stories long ago. It was cold. She was cold. And she obviously felt she had to be there.
What should I do? Give her money? What was best?
As I wrestled with these questions, the window rolled down from the car in front of me and a hand shot out holding a warm pair of gloves. The driver took her own gloves off and gave them to the shivering woman. I saw the young woman mouth the words "thank you" as a broad smile lit up her face.
As I debated, somebody else helped. As I hesitated, somebody else acted. As I tried to decide the best way to assist, somebody else just did what she could. As I did nothing, she did something.
I made myself a pledge that day to always do something. Whether it is big or small, just do something. Something is almost always better than nothing!
Educator Leo Buscaglia said, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Don't underestimate what you can do! Each of us can do something, and the something you do may be more important than you'll ever know.
Going Through the Opening
Contracting Before Expanding
Sometimes our lives contract before they expand. We may be working hard on ourselves spiritually, doing good in the world, following our dreams, and wondering why we are still facing constrictions of all kinds—financial, emotional, physical. Perhaps we even feel as if we've lost our spirituality and are stuck in a dark room with no windows. We may be confused and discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. But sometimes this is the way things work. Like a caterpillar that confines itself to a tiny cocoon before it grows wings and flies, we are experiencing the darkness before the dawn.
When things feel tight, it's easy to panic or want to act in some way to ease the feeling of constriction. We might also spin our wheels mentally, trying to understand why things are the way they are. However, there is nothing we need to do at this time other than to be patient and persevering. We can cling to the awareness that we are processing the shift from one stage to another, and the more we surrender to the experience, the more quickly we will move through the tightness into the opening on the other side. Just like a baby making its way down the birth canal, we may feel squeezed and pushed and very uncomfortable, but if we remember that we are on our way to being born into a new reality, we will find the strength to carry on.
Even as we endure the contractions, we can find peace within ourselves if we remember to trust the universe. We can look to the natural world for inspiration as we see that all beings surrender to the process of being born. In that surrender, and in the center of our own hearts, is a willingness to trust in the unknown as we make our way through the opening.
Home • Table of Contents