Peace on Earth
By Leslie Sann
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.~ Rumi
Tis the season when cards filled with warm wishes for “Peace on Earth” arrive, brightening our days. Yet peace is more than a greeting on a card. It’s a choice we embrace within ourselves, regardless of our circumstances. This kind of peace is anything but passive; it’s active, transformative, and enriching. It empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with ease and grace.
The Institute for Individual and World Peace (IIWP) outlines four powerful principles of peace that can guide us on this journey:
- Peace is Present
- Peace is an Inner Process
- Peace is the Cessation of Againstness
- Peace is a Choice, Available Regardless of Any Conditions
Let’s explore the first principle: peace is always present, regardless of persons, situations, events or conditions. No matter our challenges, there is always an opportunity to choose peace. It is an inner journey—a continuous choice. The more we consciously choose peace, the more peaceful we become.
It is easy to live in upset. It takes courage to choose peace, for peace means letting go of “againstness,” the fight against reality. Our judgments and arguments with what is stand in the way of experiencing peace. As we release these mental battles, we experience the peace that’s been there all along.
And where does this “againstness” reside? Primarily in our minds. When we resist the present moment, we create internal conflict, which leads to discontent and disharmony. Yet, we have the power to change this. While we as individuals may not be able to end wars worldwide, we can certainly quell the conflicts within ourselves.
Our individual peace contributes to peace on Earth. Imagine if each of us accepted this responsibility. Envision a world where everyone consciously chooses peace.
May there be peace on Earth. Let us each choose the peace that exists beyond the words on a greeting card.
Blessings and Joy, 