This isn’t a post about current global conflicts, but it’s inspired by them. With everything that’s been going on, I can’t help but revisit something I realized a few years ago: inner peace contributes to outer peace. 

What do I mean by that?

Imagine, for a moment, that you were completely at peace with yourself. All the things you don’t like about yourself, all the shortcomings for which you beat yourself up, all the failure and shame and regret that you are carrying with you, imagine that you were able to make peace with all of it. You were able to forgive, accept, and love yourself. Unconditionally.

Would you then:

• Spend time comparing yourself with others?
• Feel the need to prove yourself in any way?
• Want to exercise power over those who don’t have it?
• Take your anger and frustration out on other people?
• Want to harm someone – including yourself?

I genuinely believe that when we are at peace with ourselves and our lives, the answer to these questions is a clear no.

When I realized the importance of inner peace in 2020, I faced the uncomfortable truth that I was not at peace in my own life. My inner conflicts were adversely impacting important areas of my life including my relationships, my work, and my overall well-being.

I knew I needed to change. That’s why I have spent the past three-and-a-half years actively working towards my inner peace. It hasn’t been easy, for sure, but I have been able to cultivate more love, compassion, and forgiveness in my heart. And I can feel the difference. Not only are my relationships and overall well-being better, but I also have more space in my heart to truly care about the pain and suffering of people I don’t even know. This didn’t seem possible when I was grappling with my own unhappiness. But now it is. I feel a deeper desire to be of service for more peace in the world. Not because that would make me a “nice person” but because there’s no other way for me to go from here.

I have a feeling that my particular path in life will take me further in the direction of conflict resolution. I don’t know the details, but here are some ways in which I have started to prepare:

1. I am curious about Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work and am reading his autobiography. How did he stay committed to truth and non-violence in the face of oppression, injustice, and brutality? I would like to to learn more from leaders like him. 

2. I started taking formal training in conflict resolution last year. I plan to continue that process and learn the skills that will help me mediate conflicts more effectively.

3. I am thinking of ways to bring this approach to my work on a larger scale. I don’t know what form it will take, but I have been reflecting on how to help more people be at peace with themselves and their lives.

I wrote all this today because I needed to. I am sharing it with you because if, like me, you are feeling the pain and the suffering of what’s happening in our world, I want you to know you’re not alone and you’re not helpless. 

You can play a part in creating a more peaceful world.

Start with yourself.