Having and Being Peace
Part One: Choosing Peace
by Thomas A. Leenerts, Psy.D. and Berta Stella Cantón
“Spirit Self, help me be peace with this too.”
To be peace is to have peace. It is not something we dress up in, it is who
we are before we become entangled in the dynamics of our earth bound
conditioning and conflict. These are arbitrary and external. They have only as
much power over us as we ourselves give them. When we undo all the power we have
given them we will know ourselves as peace.
The fact is, however, we often slide out of peace without realizing it. The
moment we feel our peace slipping away and conflict or irritation beginning to
replace it, we can retrieve the conscious experience of being it with a simple
reminder, “Spirit Self, help me be peace with this, too.” Then wait and see. We
don’t get caught up in being impatient; let the situation unfold in its own time
without exerting effort to change anything. We don't form any expectations about
when things will change, because that immediately takes us out of the present
moment and into the future. Don’t think back to what happened the last time we
were in a similar situation?. That takes us into the past. We stay present and
surrender to the real Self with total trust. What will unfold will be peace.
In order to help us stay focused on being peace we suggest that we use
“reminder” cards. We call them “reminder” cards because what they do is remind
us to be attentive to what is happening in our mind and to fulfill our intention
to be peace. The key is awareness of what is occurring in mind so that we can
choose again. Without awareness we will not know ourselves as peace but will
continue to move about in a state of conflict, confusion or fear.
Write out on four business size cards the statement:
”Spirit Self, help me be peace with this too.”
Begin by placing each of the four cards in a strategic and visible place, such
as the bathroom mirror, the kitchen refrigerator door, on your car dash board,
in your purse or billfold, on your computer screen, etc. The point is to
encounter them throughout the day in different settings and circumstances. Each
time you do, make a point of saying the statement to yourself? or out loud if
you find that helpful. For some, saying it out loud doubles their exposure to
it, for they hear it as well as think it.
Because this is an internal mind exercise it is done alone, but we have found
that people often get more out of it when they go through it with a friend who
is also interested in being peace. This allows for a little more discussion on
what insights arise. If you do this with a buddy, then make another set of
identical cards for that person to use. At the end of the week, share what it is
you each noticed as you reminded yourself throughout the days with the
statement. Note whether any particular situation is harder or easier. Give some
thought as to why that might be so.
After a day of teaching, Leslie rushed to the store to buy groceries for her
family. When she was at the check out counter she discovered she had left her
billfold at home. Her immediate impulse was to be thoroughly disgusted with
herself. She quietly whispered, “Spirit Self, help me be peace with this too.”
She did nothing more than that and waited. While driving home she noticed she
was at peace within herself and with the fact of forgetting her billfold. Later,
she shared her peace experience with a friend. That way her friend was able to
benefit from her experience.
The use of the reminder cards is not something that we need to concentrate
on, rather, let it be a relaxed awareness that is effortless. After all we are
innate peace. All we need to do is let go of mind reactions that seemingly block
being peace in the present moment.
Copyright 2005 by Thomas A. Leenerts
< to PART 2 >
Thomas Leenerts and Berta Cantón have new book entitled, Wellfolk, is expected
to be out by this summer. If you would like to know when it is available please
click here.
Please e-mail us about your experience with being peace as suggested in this
article. With your permission we will share it with others on the PeaceCenters
web-site. To send an e-mail
click here.
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