“Remember, despite how open, peaceful, and loving you attempt to be, people can only meet you, as deeply as they’ve met themselves.”
– Matt Kahn
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu – “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”
Our ultimate goal as conscious humans on this planet is to find our collective peace. I always think of Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu as being “the end of suffering for all beings, everywhere”.
The end of suffering…that’s why we do any of this, right? The light and dark will always exist to balance one another, but if you are reading this right now, chances are you are a being of light. We can transmute suffering and create peace, but it will take a whole lot of waking up from each of us individually.
We are all worthy of peace. Every person, every child, every animal, is worthy of peace.
We invest so much in “healing from’’ traumatic or challenging things (as we should, to an extent). Our past trauma can and does still affect us. If you experienced trauma, you did nothing to cause it or deserve it, and it was not right or fair. Absolutely spend time processing and healing it so you can come out the other side and do your life’s work.
Yet we are not meant to get stuck there, letting your past have so much power over you that it takes away your peace now.
So how do we heal and honor our experiences, while taking back our own power?
When we choose suffering, we give our power away. When we choose to see through the lens of fear instead of the lens of love, we give our power away.
The shift happens when we flip our perspective. The shift happens when we begin to play our own hero instead of the victim. Remember, you are the main character of your own story. Once you reclaim your personal power through internally cultivating peace and love, you are able to share that peace and love with all you encounter, whether they can see that or not.
We can only shape the future one present moment at a time. If we as a collective spent more time in presence, we would experience less fear and more love; less lack and separation, more graciousness and gratitude. Less despair, more peace.
The quickest way into the present moment is to be with your breath. The minute you lose your breath, you have lost your peace. Find peace in this season and throughout the whole year knowing that you are WORTHY of being with your breath, taking space when you need it, and protecting your energy and your peace. Ask yourself constantly, “How can I return to my breath in this moment?”.
Ask Yourself:
- Who, what, when, where, why, and how do I experience peace?
Action Step:
Spend a moment today in meditation: seated, walking, in the bath, or laying down. Take in your surroundings and enjoy deep belly breaths. Remind yourself that you are safe in this moment. Find your peace within, the peace that is always there even when it’s hard to find. Once you feel connected, visualize sending that peace to all living beings, everywhere.
Moving forward, Please, please remember that in order to protect your peace it is okay to:
- Say No. Without explanation. No is a complete sentence.
- Take breaks and be by yourself
- Change your mind
- Ask for help
- Break traditions that no longer serve you
- Create new traditions with your chosen loved ones
- Set boundaries and be true to yourself before anyone else
- Practice radical self-care even though it’s holiday time!
Resource: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Resource: Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life