Peace begins from within

Every year, the International Day of Peace, commemorated on September 21, reminds us of humanity’s shared longing for peace. We often think of peace in terms of countries, governments, and the absence of conflict.

A peaceful world begins with peaceful individuals. When the mind is filled with anger, fear, jealousy, resentment, and constant worry, these emotions influence our words, actions, and relationships. Therefore, creating peace in the world is not only a responsibility of leaders and institutions. It begins with the way we manage our own thoughts and emotions.

BEGINS WITH AWARENESS

The first step towards personal peace is becoming aware of what is happening inside us. We cannot always control what happens around us, but we can learn to choose how we respond.

Take a few moments each day to become quiet and observe your thoughts without judging them. Simply spending a few moments away from distractions can help the mind settle.

Before reacting to a difficult situation, pause and ask yourself: “Will my response bring peace or disturbance?” That small pause can change the course of events that follow the response.

CHOICE OR DEFAULT?

Peace is our natural state, but we have practised lower emotions for so long that they have become our automatic responses. Old patterns and external situations condition us, and we react before we even have a chance to choose.

It is time to reverse this pattern. We need to make peace our conscious choice until it becomes our default.

PEACE: A DAILY RITUAL

Peace is not something we can find somewhere outside ourselves. Nor can something outside permanently take it away from us. Often, we lose our peace when we allow external circumstances or our character traits to govern our inner state. The bridge between losing and regaining peace is our desire to regain it and our willingness to practise it every day.

We can create a simple daily ritual to strengthen our inner peace. A few minutes in silence, meditation, mindful breathing, or a walk in nature can help. Observe your thoughts and emotions without judging them. Remind yourself of the qualities you want to express: calmness, kindness, patience, and understanding.

This International Day of Peace, let us make one personal commitment: when peace is difficult to choose, choose it anyway! The most meaningful contribution each of us can make is to create a little more peace within ourselves. When the mind becomes peaceful, our relationships become gentler, our decisions become clearer, and our presence becomes a source of comfort to others.

Peace in the world may seem like a distant dream, but peace within us is a choice we can begin making today.

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Centre, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Get in touch via email: bkmeditation.jam@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 876-853-7848. Follow the centre on Instagram: rajyoga.meditation.jamaica.