Create Inner Peace

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". One way I do that is to create and retain inner peace. Right about now, as the holiday energy builds and social demands increase, I need to review practices that help me to maintain an even-temper, patience, and grounded-ness.

Agenda:

1. Prayer for the light

2. Read "Discover Inner Peace"

3. Light a candle for Peace and Equanimity

4. Daily equanimity practice

5. Daily love journal

1. Prayer for the Light:

As the earth grows colder,
the winds blow faster,
the fire dwindles smaller,
and the rains fall harder,
let the light of the sun
find its way home.

2. Read "Discover Inner Peace":

Today I did some reading from this beautiful little book by Mike George (2000), with the subtitle of "A Guide to Spiritual Well-Being". I read it first over 20 years ago!

Chapter 5 is Inner Silence: "Silence is the natural state of the spirit. In its truest form it is found only within, in the core of the self, which is indistinguishable from the spirit. If we know how to access this inner silence, we unfailingly find it, because it is always there, and always has been."

The author reminds me that inner calm is connected to my quality of breathing; peace of mind comes with deep, slow breathes. He includes a breathing visualization called the Blissful Fisherman: 

Picture yourself on a boat on a beautiful calm sea, and you time your breathing to the gentle swells of the waves. You cast out a net and begin to pull it in with each in-breath. Your net holds the infinite gifts of spirit: Truth, love, patience, wisdom, calm, beauty.

 

3. Light a candle for Peace and Equanimity:

For the first part of Soyal I am meditating and writing about each of my core values, and making plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits. Today I am giving attention to Peace and Equanimity: Staying calm and patient with people and problems, not obsessed with any thought, and not acting with aggression or anger.

Equanimity is an expression of love: It’s the serenity we exhibit when we have to wait, and also the kindness we show to those “difficult people” who don’t listen to reason, who interrupt, who are overly sensitive, or who are so annoying. Equanimity allows us to let go of frustration and irritation, and treat those people with skill and gentleness. It allows us to counter disrespect and contempt with compassion, and to remember that human needs are not always logical, but are always more important than our schedule.

Today I light a lavender candle for peace and equanimity, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.

4. Equanimity Practice

Equanimity is a habit that requires love and self-control; it requires that you cut people slack and allow them to be imperfect; that you relax and let go of time anxiety; and that you acknowledge your impatience and irritation but don't act on them. It's powerful; it opens hearts. People feel liberated when you let them know that you are unruffled and in no hurry. Your patience is a gift to them, and will allow them to heal and grow.

And it's not only useful with in-the-moment situations, but also for grounded-ness in the face of world upheaval and fears about the future. Life is a rainbow of chaos, and equanimity is a super-power that will get you through.

For the last weeks of December, I find it helpful to incorporate this practice I call my "Zen Pause" into my morning routine, in hopes that I will remember to use it when I really need it:

1. Plant your feet firmly on the earth (picture a mountain - be a mountain); name how you are feeling.
2. Touch your heart, and soften (relax your shoulders, slow your breathing); hold your feelings in love and light.
3. Touch your head, open your mind, and expand your thinking. Embrace the paradox of chaos and the still center.

Because I'm analytical by nature it also helps me to sort out the cause and effect of my feelings. I have a brief inner dialogue such as, "I'm feeling very impatient now; more than the situation merits ... do I need to eat something perhaps? or take a little quiet time alone? Do I need to give attention to feelings of sadness right now? Is my impatience grounded in unreasonable expectations?".

5. Daily love journal:

Periodically I take out a special small journal that I call my love journal. First I think about the people I will see today, and the conversations we may have. I make note of times when I might need to draw on equanimity.

And then I answer these queries: 

-What are my triggers? What situations or words cause me to be most impatient or ungrounded?

-What is my "normal" response to disrespect or unreasonableness?

-What is my normal response to expectations that fall through? 

-What kinds of habits help me to stay calm and grounded during frustration and irritations, well as moments of grief, or elation?

Lastly, I brainstorm a list of people for whom I wish I had greater loving patience and self-control, and specific situations that would improve if I had greater equanimity. I brainstorm some goals for equanimity in the days ahead, and add them to my planner.