I posted on my old blog (now deleted) a year ago. Feels also appropriate here.
November 11th 2021 (Thursday)
"When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world."
- Maha Ghosananda
Today is known as ‘Armistice Day’, when a ceasefire of hostilities was declared in Europe in 1918, eventually leading to the end of the First World War. These articles though are about positivity and motivation, so let’s not talk about war today, but instead about peace.
It’s generally recognised that conflict is often a result of fear - whereas peace comes about when love is remembered and embraced by all sides involved in said conflict. That sense of peace doesn’t always come about automatically though; it often requires a concerted and deliberate act of self-examination, self-recognition and absolute honesty with each other.
However, when we are in conflict with ourselves, the only way we can bring about the peace we seek is from within ourselves; not always an easy thing to do. It takes courage to cease conflict (we’ve spoken before about how courage comes from the heart - literally!) and, if it takes an act of love to bring about peace, that first act must be with oneself.
One way to make peace with yourself is to stop carrying around baggage called ‘guilt’ or ‘shame’. The heavy burden of this places too much strain on both your body and your soul. You may well have made mistakes in life but the important thing is to demonstrate that you have learnt from them. Success there represents the most powerful form of personal growth.
Seeking forgiveness for your mistakes doesn’t just involve the people you affected, it includes yourself. When you do that, when you show sincere contrition, you are more likely to be forgiven. Thus you make peace not only with yourself but also with the world.
What peace eludes you at the moment? Where can you apply this act of compassion and love that will ultimately bring you that peace? Do you need to start with yourself first?
Addendum:
Interestingly, given this is being written in Estonia, it just occurred to me that the word “Armistice”, deriving from the Latin “armistitium”, or “the stopping of arms”, is remarkably close to the Estonian word “armastus”, which means......“love”. ❤️.
No coincidences, right?!
Love and light,
🙏