Spiritual Journey - discernment and peace amid turmoil

.13 DISCERNMENT: Part ThreeBy Angela Skeete Davis

Now, last week we were discussing bringing peace into our lives? How does it happen? The books I have read suggest meditation. It is supposed to ground your spirit, put you more in tune with your body and your inner you and give you peace. I am working on that. I try to meditate as often as I can. I find it does keep me more grounded and in tune with the needs of my body and spirit. I find that I am more at peace when I practice meditation. It does work. The hardest part is just finding or rather carving out time to meditate.

There are people in my life who exude peace and serenity but their lives are in turmoil. When I ask them how this could be, they say they don’t let the turmoil around them touch them. They tell me to let go of the things that make me crazy, to let go of past issues that bring me down. I tell them it is not so easy. They say that is what makes it worth it. I am trying to do those things as well. It does work. It is also not easy...

I also know people who seem wired yet there lives are, for the most part, in order. They can’t explain why they always seem in turmoil, but I often sense that they don’t appreciate the balance in their lives. Frequently these people are never satisfied or are always complaining. I find that they let even the little things get to them. Trust, I don’t want what they have. It doesn’t seem to work. I would rather be at peace amidst turmoil than be in turmoil amidst peace.

Finally, I also know of one person who says his life is in flux, who says he is seeking peace. It is sometimes hard to believe because there are times when he seems so serene it is almost palpable. But upon careful evaluation. I find he is not necessarily serene he is just tired. Now, tiredness can bring on peace. But that is not how we want to get peace in our lives. We want it to happen in a positive way and sometimes tired means depression, a state we don’t want to be in.

I think we have to realize that we are given opportunities to experience the things we most desire. We just don’t know how to go about capitalizing on those opportunities. I would suggest we look at our lives. Perhaps the things that are happening to us, that are frustrating us, are the very things that, if we let them, will help us to find what we seek. Perhaps my friend’s life, like most of our lives, is revolving in a manner that is really an opportunity for him (and us) to receive the peace he (we) seeks. I believe he (we) must pay attention to the moments and be discerning. Peace will come. That is the one thing you may not find by giving it to others.

So this week, do not let life get to you. Let go of the things that normally frustrate you. Refuse to be ruffled by things that normally make you crazy. Pay attention to the moments and opportunities for you to be at peace. Practice does make for perfect and eventually peace may be an automatic part of your life. If that is what you seek.

Next week, back to “The Invitation”

“Dedicate yourself to the good you deserve and desire for yourself. Give yourself peace of mind. You deserve to be happy. You deserve delight.” Hannah Arendt (German-born American Philosopher and Political Scientist. 1906-1975)

Spiritual Journey - safe haven

.06 SAFE HAVEN

By Angela

I was hanging out with a friend this week talking, as we usually do, about her multiple illnesses. I have told her in the past and reminded her again on this day: some of her illnesses are due to her stressful lifestyle. But, hey, don’t we all have stressful lives. Anyway, she asked me to suggest a few ways to help relieve her stress; things that are quick, easy to do, easy to remember, and don’t take up space.

I suggested she try meditation. But, she said she has tried it many times but can’t. Could I instead suggest something I’ve done, that has worked? I suggested she try my inward journey and that we try it right then. She agreed. Here is how it works:

Find a comfortable place to sit (if not possible, sit where you can). Make sure your hands, arms, feet and legs are relaxed and not crossed. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths. When you breathe in, start from the bottom of your stomach and fill your entire body. When you breathe out, let it all flow out. As you get comfortable with the deep breaths, as you breathe out, imagine your stress leaving your body…out from your toes and your fingertips. And as you breathe in, imagine a white light filling you from the top of your head. When you are filled with white light and free of your stress, then breathe easy. It is time to take your journey.

Create in your mind the one place you would love to go if you could just disappear to your “safe haven” any time you felt. Imagine the sights and smells and sounds. Stay as long as you like. When you are finished, get up and stretch and go about the rest of your day, hopefully better than you were.

I know of someone who created a castle as her haven. She would sit on her throne, listen to beautiful music, and be catered to by gorgeous men and women. Another person created a cottage, in a meadow. Inside the cottage were a great big armchair, a library, lots of blankets and pillows for sitting, and a talking. My “safe haven” is a garden with a hammock, a lake, and a gazebo. The grass smells of herbs as you walk on it and beautiful music plays in the background.

When I tried this with my girlfriend, she said it definitely helped her feel better. The breathing exercises helped her release her stress. She also said when she saw her “safe haven “ she was an adult playing in her favorite spot as a child with her friends from years ago. She said it all felt good. She said she would definitely remember to do this whenever she was stressed. Please take this week and try this journey. I hope it helps you as much as it helped my girlfriend.