…And let it begin with me.  If you are like most people you may feel an increase in agitation with the recent violent attacks around the world and the subsequent reactions around and within you. Feeling peaceful can be elusive, and can be difficult to embody if you don’t know what it is.

Peace is a mood.  A mood is someone’s pervasive state of being; it surrounds us and is the place from which the majority of our thoughts and emotions emerge.  Emotions are different than moods; emotions come and go quickly and frequently throughout the day.

Creating Peace Within

1. Acceptance.  When you fight “what is,” meaning the reality or facts of your life or in the world, this creates resistance and produces anger and resentment.  Acceptance doesn’t mean you like it or endorse it.  It’s just a place of what is.
2. Surrender.  Think of this as a path to acceptance.  In this case, to give up the hypothetical fight against what is. Or give oneself up to a course or emotion.  
3. Let go.  Figure out what is in your control and what is not in your control.  If it’s not yours, let it go.
4. Do.  Pray, meditate, visualize, stretch, spend time in quiet, connect with nature, or create a peaceful space in your home.
5. Look for commonalities.  Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.  This can go a long way to decreasing conflictual feelings.
6. Forgive and apologize. Forgiveness can lift huge emotional burdens that we can carry around forever. Apologizing cleans the slate and offers a chance to start anew.
7. Practice gratitude. According to Brene Brown, gratitude is the source of joy. Being grateful creates a sense of appreciation for what we have.