Peace. It’s something we all strive to achieve within ourselves and hope for on a global scale. A concept so coveted, the United Nations felt compelled to establish a day of observance in 1981, and years later would go on to dedicate September 21st as the International Day of Peace.
It stands for freedom from disturbance, which leaves room for amity to grow, but with all the noise of current events happening around the world, more and more people admit they’re having a hard time finding it and seeing it.
I’m certainly not perfect. Like you, I’m only human and proud of all that means, including getting sucked into the chaos and losing my grip on serenity sometimes. What’s important is treating yourself with grace so you can get back on track and move forward, because creating a peaceful world requires each and everyone of us to find it within first. Here’s a few ways I try to do this:
Make the Time – I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, anything that’s worth doing needs a chance to develop, so earmark time each day to be present in an activity that brings quiet, stillness, and/or grounding until it becomes habit. Guided journals were a great help for me, a classic over booker, which brings me to my next point…
Stop Overscheduling – Society has become predicated on how much one does in a day, to the point where people have forgotten how to just be. You shouldn’t feel guilty for taking a personal day, or some downtime for yourself. Stretching yourself too thin only increases your stress level, decreases your health, and inhibits your chance to sit with and process your inner thoughts.
Turn Off the Noise – You have control over how much you watch, scroll, and engage. You even control the messaging thanks to online algorithms. PUT. DEVICES. DOWN. Get them off your nightstands, stop taking them to the bathroom (you know who you are), and cut screen time. Challenge yourself to create something, try something new, reflect, talk, or play in these moments instead.
Who Made You the Judge? – I’m certainly not perfect, are you? We only know what we see of others or have lived through ourselves. What we see is only the tip of everyone’s iceberg. We don’t know what others are dealing with under the surface, and many are dealing with a lot right now. Start trying to put yourself in another’s shoes before you’re so quick to judge.
Agree to Disagree – Biodiversity is as important to the planet as it is within our species. We all bring something unique to the table, so of course we’re not all going to agree all the time. Practicing open-mindedness when confronted with different opinions and beliefs means truly listening and trying to find good in that point of view. It’s about an exchange not conversion and revealing some common ground. We all need to work on uncomfortable conversations, our fear we bring to them, and the concept of true belonging.
Counteracting with Gratitude – We all love to complain. There’s always something that irks us over the course of our day or our lives. But if you fixate, and repeatedly pick at these feelings they’ll fester into something ugly. When I hear or catch myself complaining, I immediately think of something to be grateful for out of that situation, making it hard for negative thoughts to take hold.
This year’s International Day of Peace theme is Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World. It’s a gesture meant to create space for non-violence and cease-fire, which is coming at a vital moment in time for all of us. I hope you will join me in promoting peace within yourself or your circle, not just on this day, but every day.
By Melanie Robitaille, Sr. Staff Writer and Graphic Designer
