LIVING IN PEACE
“peace” by Bana gurl is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion”–Mother Teresa
In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In the earliest years of the Peace Prize, the prize was often awarded to pioneers of the organized peace movement. However, since World War II, the Peace Prize has been principally focused on four main areas: arms control and disarmament, peace negotiation, democracy and human rights, and work aimed at creating a better organized and more peaceful world. Mother Teresa won the award for her humanitarian efforts of trying to overcome poverty and distress in the world. Although the Noble Peace Prize is a representation of what peace efforts can look like on a massive scale, at the root of achieving peace is what we do in our everyday lives.
Mother Teresa is not the only individual who has made a lasting contributing to world peace. Other well-known individuals of the 20th and 21st Centuries include: non-violence civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther Jr, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, and former South Africa President Nelson Mandela. Each of these individuals recognized that there were better ways of resolving conflicts which includes focusing more on how to have more respect and love for one another.
FINDING PEACE THROUGH FORGIVENESS
“forgive” by timlewisnm is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
“Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace”…Nelson Mandela
For many decades, many countries from around the world have celebrated International Day of Peace on September 21st. The primary aim of this day is to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining peace and resolving conflicts peacefully. Nelson Mandela is a great examples of someone who has demonstrated how to “live in peace” despite what painful experiences one may be going through.
In June of 1964 Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for his efforts to ban apartheid in South Africa. He served 27 years of that sentenced before being released in February of 1990. Mandela later wrote about his experience behind bars and said that, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
At some point in our life we will likely be emotionally challenged by a stranger, someone whom we may be mildly acquainted with or someone whom we perhaps love extremely deeply. However, learning how to let go of painful experiences can take us on a different path; one that can lead to the liberation of the heart, mind, body and soul.
FINDING INNER PEACE
“Not merely an absence of noise, ‘Real Silence’ begins when a reasonable being withdraws from the noise in order to find peace and order in his inner sanctuary. — Peter Minnard (Beach Series 5/5)” by Fountain_Head is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
The “Serenity Prayer” is a very well-known prayer in the Christian doctrine. The prayer is very short, but yet profound and simply states, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference”.
There are many courageous stories about how individuals have managed to remain in a state of peace despite their grim circumstances. I am reminded of Joan of Arc (French folk heroine and Roman Catholic saint) who was burned at the stake at the age of 19 for alleged heresy. Some of the last words that she is believed to have uttered were these, “Hold the cross high so I may see it through the flames!”
Joan of Arc’s mental, emotional and spiritual state was that of someone that had found inner peace and refused to be thwarted from her life’s mission despite the many challenges that she faced. Finding inner peace is a journey – a journey that involves acceptance, love, and serenity.
The following are ways to help build your inner peace:
- Accept that there are some things in your life that are completely out of your control
- Take responsibility for your actions
- Practice gratitude
- Don’t hold grudges
- Be kind to yourself and others
- Forgive yourself and others
- Love yourself and others
- Meditate
- Have patience
- Be Optimistic
“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” ― Mahatma Gandhi.
REFERENCES:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nobel-Prize-Winners-by-Year-1856946
https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/nobel-peace-prize/about-the-nobel-peace-prize/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc/Capture-trial-and-execution
