In one of his recent tweets, the Dalai Lama wrote, “Peace in the world depends on peace within.” How true. Sometimes when I read or hear about the cruelty of some people toward others, I become disheartened. I question what can be done to help. And then I remind myself it is how each individual person chooses to try to live that makes a difference in our world.
When I think about peace, I’m reminded of how the Creator is the source of “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). I often pray for peace for other people and for myself, and I pray in thanksgiving for the gift of peacefulness I often feel. When I think about “peace within,” I’m also reminded of the Jungian premise that each person who grows in consciousness helps to make the world a better place. Part of becoming more conscious is adding to one’s knowledge about oneself, including about one’s negative aspects. As these aspects come into the light, so to speak, they can be acknowledged, change can take place, and the person becomes more whole. And in becoming more whole, a person experiences more peace within.