World peace is a nice idea, but when news of conflicts from around the world are so abundant on my screens I can find myself drowning in despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve learned some simple tricks to help me foster peace in a battle-torn world. First of all, the world is not my responsibility. Of course people are suffering, yet just because I know about it doesn\u2019t mean I should do something about it. I have choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone once told me, \u201cDetachment is the key to peace.\u201d When I read a headline about homeless people in the cold I have two choices: do something about it or let it go. Fretting about \u201cwhat needs be done\u201d or lashing out at someone else with blame are generally not good choices; they just foster, well, fretting and blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trick is to foster peace in my head rather than in the world. What can I do to foster peace at home, peace with myself? My trick: I draw a line between what I can change and what I can\u2019t. I can\u2019t change you, for instance. And I can\u2019t change Congress. But I can be nice to you. And I can write to Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another trick? I read historical novels and learn about the struggles of those who have gone before me. I get to see that right now, it\u2019s not so bad. It could be worse. I develop gratitude for the current plight when I see it in the context of historical plights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a third trick: I try to help someone else. If you want to feel good about yourself, do good things. Not think good things or post good things, but actually do good things. It brings me peace to look back on my day and take stock of what I gave, not what I got. When I try to make a ledger of what I received, it often turns into a list of \u201cwhat I should have received.\u201d For some crazy reason \u2014 maybe because I\u2019m human \u2014 I tend to focus on the deficits. Gotta fix that. Gotta remember: I am owed nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not good at these tricks. Actually, right now, I\u2019m writing this to myself. I\u2019m reminding myself of what works to bring me peace. I\u2019m vowing to do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no truer statement than \u201cpeace begins at home.\u201d Doing things to make yourself more peaceful is not selfish, it\u2019s practical. Because here\u2019s the thing, when I\u2019m at peace with myself it\u2019s contagious and people nearby might catch it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
World peace is a nice idea, but when news of conflicts from around the world are so abundant on my screens I can find myself drowning in despair. I\u2019ve learned some simple tricks to help me foster peace in a … Continue reading