My purpose for writing on Hub Pages is to share what I have learned about experiencing a more peaceful life. One that is based on my true self, not the ego driven one we all endure for much of our lives until we are able to learn differently. I wish to share the tools I've used and to relay some of the experiences that continuously bring peace to me, and I believe, to those around me. I know that there are many people out there who know exactly what I'm talking about. I do not claim to be the ‘know it all' because I am definitely not. But I do know that there are many more people out there who are still searching for that place where they can experience peace in their lives. My hope is that I will be able to gently and lovingly nudge those of you who want this, toward your own peaceful journey.

First, my own transformation to finding true peace in my life began a few years back, with an uncomfortable feeling that something was just not right in terms of my ‘religious' practice. I'd grown up believing in a higher source. I went to Sunday school as a child and attended church as an adult. I taught at a private Christian school and was very, very involved in the church and school for many years. But inside, I wondered if there were something more, and often felt a bit guilty for thinking this way. A few years back, while attending a wonderful little church in my neighborhood, I found myself fidgety and bored. Honestly, I thought I might come out of my skin as I sat there, which sounds horrible. And, more than I like to admit, feeling a great sadness inside. This felt uncomfortably strange, so I wondered: What in the world is wrong with me? The pastor was doing a great job and the people in the congregation were incredibly loving and supportive. But I was still having all these feelings....I was not feeling at peace with where I was. After many more Sundays like this I finally came to the understanding that my ‘higher intelligence,' which is who I really am, was saying: Get out of the pew and learn something new!!!! I needed to get out of this ‘place' that was all too familiar, and do some exploring outside the confines of ‘religion.' My thought had always been that religion was a ‘man-made' institution and would always fall short for that very reason. When I say, ‘fall short,' I mean that there will always be disappointments when we are depending on something 'man' has created. Somehow I knew that there was absolutely more than this and now was the time to find it. I was ready to open up to the possibilities, and I realized that I needed these feelings of discomfort to push me forward.

At some point along the way I'd heard or read something about: if you changed your thoughts, you could change your life (about a year later I found a book that tied right into this called "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your LIfe! by Wayne W. Dyer). So, since this is exactly what I needed to do, I decided to give it a try. My first new thought was that I really, really wanted peace in my life. This would be a good place to start, so this is what I thought about all the time. I not only thought about it, but I started putting into place, the things in my life that would help me to find this peace. I left a very tumultuous marriage. I surrounded myself with friends who cared about me. I finished school so that I could work in the field I loved so much. I promised myself that I would never allow myself to be in another relationship where there was so much drama. PEACE was my mantra, and PEACE became my dwelling place. The one thing missing was some guidance. I needed some teachers to come into my life who would guide me on this new journey. I learned that teachers would come in many forms. They would come in the form of a new relationship. They would come in the form of the authors of the books I read. One woman, an intuitive healer who came into my life very briefly, made a huge impact on my life. She gave me a new starting point by helping me ‘clear' out the fear, anger and resentment I'd been holding on to for far too long. No matter how our teachers appear (even if they seem a bit unconventional), we need to be open to learning from them. Sometimes even the people already in our lives, who we don't really like, are our greatest teachers! They teach us some of the most difficult but important lessons we need to learn, because they force us to see things in ourselves that need the most work. If you take the time, you may notice that the very things you dislike in someone else are those things you dislike about yourself, and that need changing.

As a kindergarten teacher, I utilize a strategy to teach reading, that is based on a concept called the ‘the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD),' based on the research of Soviet developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky. As I teach children to read, I find out where their comfort level is. That is, what can they read easily without my help? I then find books at that level with just the slightest bit of difficulty included, but not so much that they become frustrated. Now as they read, they'll bump into just a few words that cause them to ‘stretch' their abilities. They will need to use the skills and strategies they've learned to sound out or decode the unknown words to be successful. This is their ‘Zone of Proximal Development.' That place where it is comfortable, yet there's just a slight challenge (without frustration) to stretch them until they have mastered it and are ready to move on. One can see how this gently moves them forward, and before they even know it, they've become quite proficient little readers. Their excitement and the sheer joy in those little eyes as they realize what they've accomplished becomes my own joy! Ok...now you've got your first tool for successfully making some slight changes of your own............find your 'stretch' point.

Why am I telling you about ZPD? I give this example so that you have a tool that can be used in the same way, but for a different purpose. I'm going to ask you to try some new things in order to find peace for yourself, and you will need some tools. Now, I'm guessing that some of you may be thinking: this is all a little weird, only crazy people do this stuff. Or, maybe that's OK for some, but not me. Maybe you think: I would never read this or that, or I would never see a ‘spiritual counselor' or any number of things I may recommend. But just for the moment, think about stretching yourself. For example, as I recommend a new book or relay a personal experience in one of my Hubs, I want you to think about where you are right now. Find your ‘Zone of Proximal Development'. Because you are unique and you are the only one who really knows this for yourself. I could not tell you. Your friends and family could not tell you. You alone will need to go inside, and you'll need to be really honest with yourself. Ask yourself these questions: What would be my stretch? (This will be different for each person). Am I willing to flex my mental muscles, ever so slightly? Am I willing to find out what that would feel like, what I may learn, or how I might change as a result? Where do you feel most comfortable in this journey, and what would be your stretch point (a point where you would not become frustrated)? Here are just a few ideas for starting out, but just make sure you remember to start at your ZPD:

* Try meditation (this link has some great tips for getting started)....this is my number one recommendation because of the magnitude of its benefits! Start out by trying it for just five minutes, then longer each time. Even when you think nothing is happening, all sorts of wonderful things are happening inside your sub-conscious mind and in your body! Just relax and enjoy the quiet and peaceful feelings. Find a comfortable and quiet place where you won't be disturbed, close your eyes and relax. Try to let your mind be still....don't worry if it wanders off, just bring it back to a stillness (thinking of nothing). Try this for a few moments first thing in the morning, then let it be the last thing you do before going to sleep.

* Choose to read a book you may have never considered (I have some suggestions below). If reading is not your thing....I highly recommend audio books (audible.com is a fantastic way to download your favorites!). You can listen to them on your commute to and from work....you'll have a much more enjoyable and satisfying trip when you use this time in a way that enriches and adds peace to your life vs all the frustrations of traffic (not to mention the horrible radio stations with commercials blaring out at you). And......You'll probably find that you look forward to the commute!

* Talk to a spiritual counselor. There are many, many choices out there (I have linked you to the counselor I visited just to give you an idea of what they do, but there are several to be found), and a one hour session can make such a huge difference! As I mentioned earlier, one of the steps in my own journey included going to see an ‘Intuitive Healer.' This wonderful woman (Lindsay Duff) was able to help me ‘clear' some negative thought patterns I'd carried around with me for far too many years. I learned that we simply cannot move forward if we are holding on to past fears, resentments or anxiety. Once I took some small steps to ridding myself of all this extra baggage, I was free to allow new and powerful thoughts, people and experiences into my life.

More books by Wayne Dyer ....(I honestly can't get enough of this author and read just about everything I can get my hands on. His audio books are also great because his voice is so soothing and he's an enjoyable listen).

Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way

There's A Spiritual Solution to Every Problem

Books by Eckhart Tolle,

A New Earth (Very, very HOT right now, and an amazingly transforming book....worth reading!)

The Power of Now (A great follow-up tool to 'A New Earth' even though he wrote this one first)

These are good places to start.....I will try to get some book reviews out on these as soon as possible, but don't be afraid to jump right in...they are all really valuable tools to get you on your way!

If you're afraid of change you will never know how it feels to live a peaceful life at every moment. One day, after I'd heard enough of her negative talking, I told one of my co-workers that she needed to stop being so negative. I understood that she'd been going through some tough times in her marriage, but her focus needed to be on feeling good, not feeling worse. I told her that, for the life of me, I couldn't honestly see what good it was going to do her to continue being so negative, and that she could just as well be positive and feel much better for it. About an hour later I heard music coming from her classroom, the rock & roll sounds she loves and the sound of her voice singing along (quite loudly, I might add). A smile came over my face as I listened. I couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness for her come over me because I knew that it was the ever so small shift in her thinking that made the difference. Are all her troubles over? Of course not, but for that moment, which was all that mattered, she felt better. For each moment the ego is quieted, and the spirit is allowed to just ‘be', a greater sense of peace begins to unfold. One moment at a time is all it takes.

Remember, I'm only talking about slight shifts in thought that can bring you the peace you desire. This is a gentle and loving nudge that I give to you, and that you are giving to yourself. You will not punish yourself if you don't do it today, or tomorrow, or ever for that matter. You will love yourself no matter what you decide. When you are ready, and only you will know when that is, you will stretch yourself by changing the way you think. Because once you take that smallest of steps, it will become easier and easier, until one day you say to yourself: Why didn't I do this sooner? I've learned and experience so many wonderful things! You'll know the answer is that you weren't ready yet, and that is just fine.