Finding Inner Peace!

Inner peace is often spoken about in the context of spirituality, but interestingly, it is winding its way into contemporary living – becoming one of our main life-style choices. In fact, no longer are sentiments of an inner life and personal retreats reserved for just the devout. Having an inner-life, seeking inner-peace, practicing meditation, yoga and living a stress-free life, has also become an essential part of attaining life-balance in our modern day stream of existence.

Inner peace, as can be described from a place of rational thought, is ‘peace’ felt from within oneself. However, it involves, learning to find the space and time to be at ease with oneself – learning to let go of ones worries and care, and allowing life to unfold just as it is meant to. In so doing, giving ones’ self the opportunity to dance with the universe, whilst taking in and experiencing the beauty of life as well.

Beauty exists whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, but we can only see the beauty of life, when we are in harmony with everything, and this comes through our ability to experience inner peace. Nevertheless, in seeking to cultivate inner-peace in your life, let us consider the following. They are just six ways, in which you can start out on the journey of finding inner-peace.

Now, let us begin!

1. Make a commitment to being peaceful.  In the bid to make a commitment to being peaceful, start out by having a peace affirmation written and placed where you can see. It may be one that says something like this – “Today, I shall choose peace above all things” or “Today, I shall be peaceful”. In this way, you are affirming your commitment to being peaceful, whilst also having a reminder nearby of the choice and the commitment you are making.
2. Make peaceful choices.  Making peaceful choices is one way of finding the inner-peace, that you ultimately seek. I am a great fan, of the late Dr. Wayne Dyer and his work. In one of his many speeches, he stated that, whenever we are confronted with a choice to be right or to be kind, that we should “choose to be kind”. I agree with him and believe that this is another great place to start on the journey of finding inner-peace. Always choose to be kind, and this is especially so, in a bid to be peaceful.
3. Have a practice that reminds you daily of the importance of peace. It is best to begin the day with a ritual that reminds you of the importance of peace. I choose to spend time, just sitting in the silence for lengths of time each day. This makes me feel more peaceful and reminds me of the importance of peace, not only around me but in the world at large. It somehow, also helps in re-enforcing my love for peace and my commitment to live with its values. In this space and time, I also acknowledge and give gratitude for peace before carrying on with my day. You may choose to do the same. But in making your choice, let it be one that feels right for you. This will ensure that you stick with it.
4. Learn the art of letting-go and practice acceptance. You can only do what you can, as a human-being – so learn to let go of things or situations which are beyond your control. More-so, let go of things that no longer serve you or that are causing you more pain that it is worth. In my opinion, this is one way in which the universe tells us that it is time to let go. Learning to let-go and to accept things or situations that you cannot do anything about is important in finding inner-peace.
5. Learn to live in harmony with yourself and with others. Everyday as you seek out to begin a new day, allow yourself a moment of silence – just to find that place of stillness within, and with the same token, that place of harmony too. Once you can feel the harmony, be at one with it and then with this, set out and approach the day ahead of you and extend this sense of peace and harmony to all you encounter on your way. This is one way one way in which you can begin the process of learning to live in harmony with yourself and others.
6. Be gentle on yourself. When people come to see me with issues of an emotional nature, being gentle on themselves as a practice, is one the first few exercises I offer to them. Usually, many of them do not know where to start with this, as they would have never thought about it or done it before. But, in time and with assistance, this gradually becomes a practice, that they take on board and for life. Nevertheless, being gentle on yourself is also an important part of finding inner-peace. Practice this daily!

Just in case, you are wondering why you should seek inner-peace…

Inner – peace comes with its own rewards. With inner peace, comes a sense of peacefulness and the experience of life, as less of a struggle. Also, once you begin to have the experience of inner-peace, life begins to take on a new lustre, a radiance, so to speak. This, then begins to permeate all that you do or come into  contact with. These a just a few, as there are many more.

For further information on the author and the journey of inner-peace, please visit; http://www.estheremanuel.com or http://www.beingatpeace.org.uk

Developing Intuition – Is it necessary?

Intuition or what is termed “Sensitivity”, within the spiritual arts, is an ability to sense beyond that which is physical in nature. So in a sense, when one is referred to as a sensitive or intuitive, it means that that person is aware of subtle energy.

Everyone has the ability to be aware of subtle energies but the degree to which anyone can do this, ranges on a spectrum, just like being able to see or to hear or to taste, etc.  As I write this, I remember the story of the boxing-day tsunami in 2004, which happened in Indonesia. It was reported that before the giant waves arrived, the animals knew that all was not well. According to the national geographic¹, elephants screamed and ran for higher ground, flamingos abandoned their low-lying breeding areas, and zoo animals rushed into their shelters and could not be enticed to come back out. Going by this, it is evident that they could sense the impending danger.

When we come into the world, we are taught how to survive using our five physical senses – our sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. Our abilities to sense beyond these are not encouraged but ignored. In fact, in western societies, anything that cannot be proven is dis-regarded. Anything that can’t be proven is seen as fluffy or inconsequential to say the least. But, in order to be a well-rounded person, it is essential that all senses are developed. In so doing, you will be able to sense and to draw conclusions on issues from a well-rounded perspective, which is also important not just in being able to manoeuvre you physical life but also your emotional and spiritual life.

In my opinion Sensitivity or Intuitive awareness is an important aspect of anyone’s personal growth and will help pave the way to an experience and expression of who you truly are amongst many other positives.

References

1. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0104_050104_tsunami_animals.html Did Animals Sense Tsunami Was Coming? By Maryann Mott for National Geographic News (January 4, 2005)

The Soul’s Journey – Journeying Home

As my paternal grandmother lay dying, she kept on drifting in and out of consciousness. During the times she would be awake, which was less frequent as time passed, she would often tell us, i.e., those who were present around her bed, about her dream. “I am having this dream”, she would say, as she slipped in and out of consciousness.

In her dream, a big ship was docking and it had arrived to take her home.

On this ship, were her mother, father and all the many others in her family that had passed on before her.  She could see that they were delighted to see her and they were all making her aware that they had come to take her home. “They have come for me and I am going to join them and then, I come awake and realise it is was just a dream, she would say. It was not a dream to the older ones around her at the time. Especially, those who had witnessed the passing of many loved ones. They knew what this meant. At the time it meant nothing to me, I couldn’t comprehend it, nor did I make an effort to. I was too young to understand, in the way that I do now.

It’s been about 25 years since her passing, and it’s only now, that I have begun the process of making sense of what she said during those moments of passing. This may be, because I am getting older, but then there is so much death being featured on the news these days that it is impossible not to imagine or think of ones death as well. Anyway as I think about my grandmothers passing now, I am aware that the ship she was referring to, was her soul-ship and an analogy for her passing. It was time for her to join those who had passed on before her.  She was going home, back to where she was before arriving here…

My Grandmother passed away quietly in her sleep. Her spirit had gone home!

Your Life’s Purpose – What is it?

If I had been asked when I was a child, what I would like to be when I grew up, I would have said, a magician, a writer, a poet, a teacher, a mother and probably, more. I was fascinated by lots of things as a child but what I remember the most, was the feeling of wanting to be something or somebody, but not quite sure what it was. I am sure everyone feels this as a child. You want to express that which is within you and if given the opportunity and space, you begin the process of unfolding who you are.

I have always had this feeling of wanting to give birth to something, yet not knowing what it is. I have carried it my entire life and can sense it as a feeling of potential that is yet to be born. It expresses itself in many ways. For example, as I am writing this, I feel as if there is an energetic egg within me hatching.

Sometimes, I may find that there is a build-up of energy in my throat area. This is especially so, when I feel the urge to speak.  At other times, I feel bubbles of excitement within. These tend to percolate and give me the urge to do what needs to be done.

Inasmuch as I wanted to be the many things stated above, I also wanted to know about the Divine or God. I was interested in the esoteric, the mystical and anything that I could lay my hands on that could satisfy my curiosity in this regards. As with most of us, I had no idea of how my life was going to play out but if anyone had asked me what I wanted to be, I was more likely to say, I wanted to be a lawyer, a doctor or an accountant, as I was not brave enough to say what I truly felt inside – in my heart.

This was mainly because there were high expectations in my family and I did not have enough experience to argue my way against the norms. I find that this is not peculiar to me, as I know quite a number of people that would choose not to express an opinion, just because it is not the popular one. This does not mean that it is wrong to do so. We all make choices and this is one of them.

The point that is being made here, is that everyone has a deep desire to be become and to create. This desire is intrinsic to our nature. It is this desire that Kahlil Gibran refers to as our mission, which he states that everyone is born with and is buried deep within our hearts. Abraham Maslow also states this.

“Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write, if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves. What human beings can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature. This need, we may call self-actualization… It refers to man’s desire for self-fulfilment, namely to the tendency for him to become what he is potentially: to become everything he is capable of becoming.”

You already know yours, even if you cannot specifically pin-point it. They may also be several, not just one. So you will have to learn to follow your inner guidance on this. Your inner guidance is sometimes referred to as your inner wisdom, your sixth sense or your intuition. But I would also like to add, that you can access this from your heart. Everyone has the ability to do this, the only issue might be not knowing how. In which case, you will have to learn how to connect with it and form a close alliance with it. You will also have to learn courage and perseverance, as this comes high on the curriculum for living your life’s purpose. You will also have to learn to be authentic in all expressions of who you are. There are lessons we have to learn along the way to prepare us for what it is we have come here to be. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to unfold, just the way you are meant to.