“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”
— John F. Kennedy
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I just finished a five day course away with the military. I was teaching mindfulness, meditation, consciously and deeply relaxing and recovery, focus and flow, what’s important and values.
It was so good, so rewarding – and so demanding. I think I eat more calories this week than two weeks normal living!
But I caught up with a participant at the train station, a really great guy. After drinking coffee and chatting, I knew I had to make clear (for myself as much as him) that I was heading to an anonymous seat to anonymously close my eyes and do my Ascension meditation.
I knew I had to take advantage of the 2 or so hours to myself on the train. I knew I would be awake at 5am in the morning with the kids, taking over from Sumati who’s been on solo duty all week. I knew I needed the time and space to go in and truly recharge after my week, to be ready for what came next.
Yet I still felt rude.
But that fear of offending someone is now less than knowing my priorities and what I value, and doing what I need to do.
So I did it.
And here I am, taking the time and space to prioritise my peace.
I also used to feel so self-conscious meditating in public. I could never do it on a train. What will people think?
But now that fear of others opinions is so minor compared with what I know time with my eyes closed will give me.
There’s also a ton of admin to be done.
Yet … you know what’s coming … there’s more important things I need to do. First priority is recharge and recover, then I can truly give to the other priorities. My family, my battery, the weekend ahead. The urgent little jobs come second.
Now, there’s a few podcasts and audiobooks I could be tempted to relax into. While that’s something in terms of rest, they don’t give near as much as a solid Ascension session does.
It’s something that we as human don’t understand very well.
Peace.
It’s not just calm and being stress free. It’s energy and aliveness. It’s clarity and understanding. It’s patience and a sense of humour. It’s essential to living your values, to being the person you want to be.
You need to nurture, prioritise, even protect it.
It’s also contagious.
I don’t profess to know how it works, but it’s like a pool, a field that you nourish and make more tangible — for you and everyone — when you choose to align deeply with it.
We’ve all walked into a room where there’s just been an unresolved argument. We’ve all felt the electricity, the tension.
And we’ve all walked into a house, a location of peace and love and aliveness too.
That’s what’s you give out – that’s what you contribute – when you prioritise your peace. It’s not just for you.
So prioritise it. Show its importance by what you do for your peace.
Do it first. Go there continuously until you become it. Nurture your connection so you can give your best to what’s truly important to you.
Alrighty?
It is your power source. Learn to stay plugged in. And that gets done through consistent practice.
Then it’s job done!
Go well,
Arjuna