Peace and Valuing Moments

 

If we are to have true peace in the world, we must first find it within ourselves.

"Most people agree that a more peaceful world would be an ideal situation for all living creatures. However, we often seem stumped as to how to bring this ideal situation into being. If we are to have true peace in this world, each one of us must find it in ourselves first. If we don't like ourselves, for example, we probably won't like those around us. If we are in a constant state of inner conflict, then we will probably manifest conflict in the world. If we have fighting within our families, there can be no peace in the world. We must shine the light of inquiry on our internal struggles, because this is the only place we can really create change."

You can read the rest of the article here.

The process of dealing with inner conflict through so many levels of change, both good and not so good, has been quite a personal journey.

The article addresses shining the light on those internal struggles.  I would add those situations that bring the struggles.  

Do any of us have the magic power of being able to control those situations?  Maybe some, but it is delusional to think that we can change all of them.  

For me, realizing that struggling with those things we can't change will only make a person very depressed and angry . . . hopelessness is the killer that makes it almost impossible to get back up after falling.

Although there are many things that concern me, I have started to finally let go of those things I can't change.  Changing the thought process has resulted in very different reactions than before as I strive to get better every day.  As a result, I am finding peace in valuing moments and being more grateful for my blessings.  As a Christian, I believe everything is in God's hands.  Things happen for a reason.

Why drive yourself crazy over things that may happen in the future?  Not one of us is given a magic wand or promised tomorrow.  So why not value the present moment?

Happy New Year!

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The Defense Mode and Falling Down

There are some lines in the song "Falling Down" from Duran Duran that have inspired me today:

"Why has the sky turned gray? 

Hard to my face and cold on my shoulder.  

Why has my life gone astray?  

Why has my luck run dry?"

Defense mode is where I'm at, I've fallen down because of it and forgiveness has been impossible to come by.  

Before I hit the ground, someone I love very much was hurting very badly and I could not bear her pain any longer.  As a result, I did something I thought was right.  

I still think I was right, but feeling like I'm in defense mode and I hate it, resent those responsible very much even though I still love them and don't want them out of my life.  My intentions were good, but they blew up in my face.  

I am not an effective confronter and people generally use it against me!


I came across an old newsletter from Mastin Kipp and the following excerpt from his writing took over my thoughts.

"The pain was a little deeper than normal because these are folks I care about and respect. On top of that, I really try my best to walk my talk, so when I mess up, I am really good at beating myself up, which is like a double negative and almost worse than the original mistake."  

First let me say that I don't relate because I think "I messed up" . . . it is beating myself up over the situation with people I love that has me relating. The double negative is trying to make the hurting stop to begin with and ending up with these ugly feelings personally.

My usual mode is to stay out of conflicts and to remain in a neutral position, but that is great when nothing has touched me.  Mess with someone I love who I see hurting and I go blind, throwing all neutral attitudes out the window.  I am proud of myself for attempting to make the problem disappear, no matter the consequences.

Sometimes things don't work out as planned.

Why am I beating myself up over this?  I want to be peaceful, contemplate what has gone by and I get the feeling others want confrontation that is like sweeping it under the rug and try to pin the blame on me for coming forward to begin with.  

At this time I don't want or need the conflict or confrontation. For this I feel like I've fallen down, but it is the only thing I can do right now.  It is what I can handle emotionally.

Don't you hate when someone dances around a story?

As usual, I am writing to let my feelings out and hope to get rid of these times of beating myself up.  

Sorry for the vagueness, but my blog is no longer anonymous and I'll get myself into more of a pickle if I explain.  :(   

Times like these make me regret bringing my blogs into the reality of my life and all who are involved.  

I hate regrets!

Hopefully there is something in my story that will help someone else, which is why I love writing about how I am feeling.

When you have fallen down, you think you are the only one who is there.  If you have . . . do what I'm going to do . . . come to terms with the situation, get up, dust yourself off and start all over again.  

What will be will be . . . in the meantime, I choose to remain stubborn!

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Attitude and adjustments

Attitude is a complex mental state.

Definitely an understatement!

It can be a mix of feelings, beliefs and values
. . . a combination of infinite variables.

Sometimes attitude is a result of a simple feeling.

Attitude can make the difference between
a positive or negative result.

Attitude builds perception in someone else's
mind whether it is true or false.

"You cannot control what happens to you,

but you can control your attitude toward

what happens to you, and in that, you will

be mastering change rather than allowing

it to master you."

(Brian Tracy)

"Men are anxious to improve their circumstances,

but are unwilling to improve themselves; they

therefore remain bound."

(James Allen)

"When you can live with all your opposite qualities,

you will be living your total self."

(Deepak Chopra)

Attitude adjustments don't mean changing who you are . . .

it is changing how you choose to react to a situation.

Always be true to yourself!

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Dealing with conflict

One of the most difficult challenges we face in our quest to be compassionate is dealing with conflict. Those we love most tend to be the ones most likely to engage us in sparring that cuts the deepest. 

Why do we allow ourselves to use our harshest words and most acid tone of voice with the people we love most? Precisely because we love them most. We're counting on unconditional love. 

We know we are likely to be forgiven. We feel close enough to let our true ugliness shine. 

(Maya Talisman Frost)

The above quote pretty much says it all, but it is so ironic that we all seek that unconditional love from another person, yet these are the people who hurt us the most and we hurt back in return . . . or the other way around.

The quote also begs to ponder the question about using our harshest words that we know will hurt the most.  We should not want to hurt that person we love so much, yet we try so hard to inflict as much pain on them as we possibly can.  Why can't rational thinking people be kinder to each other when dealing with conflict, even if we totally disagree about something.

It is one of the absurd oddities of life!

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