The challenge of living a more peaceful life

This fast-paced world we live in does not

always lend itself to peaceful living. The

responsibilities of job and family can seem

endless. Add to that poor quality food, not

enough sleep, impossible schedules and

who could feel peaceful. Sadly most of us

seem to accept this as routine, we don’t

question it we simply do it because we know

it and understand it.

Enter the wake up call. Those times when

everything we knew and understood in our

lives as normal is coming apart at the seams.

A loved one dies, a marriage dissolves, we

loose our job, a serious illness besets us

causing our strength and youthful vitality to

slip away. All of what was, or seemed positive

now looks negative and we rail against the

changes.

If we could only see things in terms of

balance rather than positive or negative.

Our universe is made up of positives and

negatives-opposites, but opposites that

balance one another. The earth itself sits

within a large magnetic field with positive

and negative polls. Our cells use the same

universal laws of positive and negative

charges to transfer nutrients and waste

products back and forth across a cell wall.

One could not exist without them but always

there’s a balance.

Illness can represent a lack of balance.

Regaining that balance during times of

illness may mean learning to live our lives

well in spite of an that illness, in short having

some acceptance of our situation, along with

some hope and faith for a better day. After

all disease or “dis-ease” is the body’s way of

asking that we pay attention, rebalance and

redistribute our life force energy to a pattern

that is more conducive to health.

In terms of positives and negatives and

health in the human body, we would be

happier and healthier if we understood

that all of life is a flow of energy. When

we cling to what may appear to be a

positive for too long a time, the stronger

the negative pull may become. Of course

there’s nothing wrong with taking the

positive view of things, it’s the right thing

to do, but with closer examination what

may have appeared to be a positive on the

surface may not be bringing balance to your

life. Your body is asking that there be some

adjustments made.

When we find ourselves in the midst

of a crisis we can at feel like a tar baby stuck

with no hope of every getting free.

Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

writes, “People should not try to run away

from their suffering. In fact, you have to

hold the suffering and look deeply into it,

because that is the only way to discover the

true nature of your suffering. And when you

have seen the true nature of your suffering

you have a chance to see the way out.”

Don’t cling, make your effort the best it can

possibly be and leave the outcome to your

higher power.

We are charged to live each day to

the fullest. It can be difficult finding that

balance between living life to the fullest

and allowing for down time. The next time

you find yourself resisting some down time

remember that rest brings regeneration and

inspiration for the next challenge.

Till next time, Rebecca

10/18/07