We do not have to go to the foot of the Himalayas to attain inner peace.Instead,we can live day to day in inner quietude.If we look at all of life’s experiences and their disturbing contents with inner eyes,the disturbances we undergo will remain at the periphery.
Inner peace is about coping.If the unpleasant and painful memories remain too long with us,we will not make the transition that we are called to make from restless non-acceptance to quite acceptance.
We are in a win-win situation when we accept the challenge of living, discriminating how far we should go along a certain track,who we should relate in more intimate terms and those we need to distance because their values are so disparate from our own.
If we are self-sacrificing and wise,we will remain calm and tranquil despite the provocations we face.We do not avoid difficult people and circumstances,but learn to deal with them by distancing ourselves from them and building on relationships that bring happiness.There are many ways to cultivate and build on inner peace.We could set sometime aside daily for prayer and meditation.
We endure life’s storms and learn to absorb its shocks and we find that we are,in fact in the midst of all these circumstances,communicating with God,a tangible presence in our lives.
Coping is not just reactive,it’s proactive,too.We pick up the mantle thrown to us and practice patience,detachment,endurance,serenity and acceptance of all that comes our way.To overcome obstacles and difficulties we need to develop coping skills that encompass emotional,mental and spiritual need.
Life is uncertain,it is unpredictable.It is uncertain,it seems.But in learning to cope with all the ups and down of life,we begin to live a full life.The reward of inner strength is inner peace.
Once we learn to cope,the going will be easier and there will be no need for camouflage.There is no need to hide our real selves.We will be able to stand up and meet life on our own terms.
