I never knew I wanted peace so badly not until I experienced so much turmoil and chaos inside of me. The arguing voices inside my head were making me crazy. They drained me emotionally and physically. I began to lose pounds. Sleeping was a difficult task. Eating too. The comfort room became a haven of sorts for the tears to fall while I muffled the sobs lest someone would hear me. It was exhausting having to pretend it was okay.

I wanted out! I just wanted my heart to stop hurting! I wanted to stop feeling! I wanted to numb whatever pain there was. And the mind to stop thinking! The anguished cry escaped my lips, “Please, God, please make the pain go away. I don’t think I can bear it anymore.” In between sobs, I would whisper, “Please…hug me please?”

And my Father in Heaven, in Her tenderness holds me close and surrounds me with His compassionate love. And I get my spiritual hug. Amazingly, the sobs subside as the pain in my heart is soothed. Love is shared. Peace descended upon me and time stood still.

God whispered to me softly, “I love you. You know that don’t you?”
“Yes,” I whispered back.
God’s love always calmed me then. I actually didn’t have ready solutions to my problems and yet, the love that I received helped me to get up and get moving once more. But what surprised me was when I was ready, the answers came. Just like that.

This scenario occurred a lot of times when I was in my early twenties. Amidst the pain, somewhere deep within me a knowing came. I knew that peace is an essential ingredient in order to live a joyful life. I wanted peace of mind. And I knew I needed to find my balance. I was off balanced during my younger years…the time when I was still lost and very much afraid of life.

Let us be bold enough to ask this billion dollar question to ourselves.

If the answer is a resounding yes, then good for you!

If the answer is no, the question continues.  How do I experience peace in my life?

We live in the world of “If’s.” 
If I have more money, then I’ll be more peaceful. 
If I am married, I’ll be more peaceful.
If I am able to pay off the house, I’ll be more peaceful.
If I have a new car, I’ll be more peaceful.
If my in-laws will just leave me alone, I’ll be more peaceful.
If I can buy a good amount of insurance, then I’ll really be more peaceful.

If you live in the world of IF’s, step out and start accepting what is in your life right now! 

Accept what is in your life without judgment.  
Accept that life is filled with uncertainties. There are no guarantees.  
Your house might burn down.  A loved one will die.  You may lose your job.  Someone will betray your trust.  It will be painful. You will grieve.
And yet allow yourself to move on.
Allow yourself to enjoy life.
Be happy.
Be happy in finding solutions creatively.
You tell yourself, “Okay my life has challenges but I know I’ll be able to handle it.”
When your friends forget your birthday, call them and tell them, “It’s my birthday today, would you like to greet me?”
Stop moping around.
Desperation doesn’t work
Life remains a struggle while you insist it’s a struggle.  
Allow things to unfold.  
Rejoice in the unfolding…in the discovery…in the learning…
Get a life.  
Live life.
Stop moaning, complaining, or whining that life is ugly and bad.  
You’ll get more of that.
And it isn’t ugly and bad.
There is much of life that has to offer you.
The question is…”Are you ready and willing to accept it now?”
Change your attitude.
You will find your peace.

Let me tell you of a Native American story that has been circulated for awhile now.

An old Cherokee once told his grandson: “A terrible fight is going on inside me. A fight between two wolves. One is evil. It represents hate, anger, envy, jealousy, self-pity, resentment, guilt, greed, arrogance, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good. It represents empathy, love, joy, hope, kindness, compassion, generosity, truth, faith and serenity. This same fight that’s going on inside me is inside every other person too. Even you.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”

The old man replied, “It’s the one that you always feed."

What thoughts are running in your head constantly? Remember the one that you always feed the most will prevail.

You would be able to immediately sense who in the crowd has peace of mind. They radiate peace simply because they have decided to be peace. And so they create wonderful, beautiful habits.

Peaceful people pray. They honor the Divine and acknowledge the goodness within them.

Peaceful people meditate. They take the time to pause for awhile and smell the flowers or watch the sunrise or sunset. They take the time to walk on the beach or savor a meal. They have learned to be still and silent and find sanctuary in that stillness.

Peaceful people know that in order to find balance one needs to go within so they are able to see outside of themselves.

I have discovered that when everything is okay deep within you, it is so much easier to live life.  I just stopped struggling.  I was able to let go of the fear and start trusting.  I started to heal.  And the pain started to recede.

I learned to laugh more.  Give more.  I allowed myself to receive love.  Receive care.  Allow people to love me and take care of me.  I danced and cried.  I sing in the showers.  I teach.  I pray.  Oh I pray a lot.  God’s love has always strengthened me.  I’ve learned to forgive and forget.  And I remembered to allow the child in me to come out and play; to hug and smile and believe that the world is a beautiful place to be.

Being peaceful doesn’t mean being passive or worse, sleepy.

Balance or peace of mind is our source of inner strength and power. It means being able to align ourselves with life rather than fighting life.

Peaceful means seeing the broader picture and not getting stuck up on the little things like inconveniences.

Peaceful means finding stillness amidst the noise of my mind which is reflected unto the world.

I would like to dedicate my 50th hub to Peace. Peace must begin within each of us so that we could go and share peace to other people around the world.

"Most people think of peace as a state of Nothing Bad Happening, or Nothing Much Happening. Yet if peace is to overtake us and make us the gift of serenity and well-being, it will have to be the state of Something Good Happening."--Elwyn Brooks White

Peace be with you.

By: Michelle Simtoco