Making Peace with your Soul

I guess I’ll start with making peace with the weather first. It’s been ghastly. Enough said. I take a deep breath in and on the exhale focus my attention inward. I empty my mind; still it with one point focus. I inhale slowly, connecting to my center, drawing in strength. I keep my mind still. I exhale slowly and consciously release any tension that I feel. I come back out into the world. The busy, noisy, chaotic, world … the world of daily dramas, brainwashing media hype and nicely packaged illusions. It’s okay. It’s my world. How I dance with it is up to me. I choose. The realization that I can choose how I am going to relate with life and its’ curve balls, is immensely empowering. I am not a victim. But because I am not a victim, I have the responsibility of dealing with the consequences of my beliefs, my thoughts, my emotions and my actions. That requires effort. Sometimes it is work. Work I love because it sets me free.

How easily we allow old habits and set patterns to dominate us. Even though they bring us suffering, we accept them with fatalistic resignation, for we are so used to giving in to them. We may idealize freedom, but when it comes to our habits, we are often enslaved. Reflection though triggers change and brings us wisdom. And so I bring up the point. If I make peace with the dark feelings and thoughts that are inadvertently provoked by the weather, or anything else for that matter, I am one step closer to making peace with myself. It is a practice. I watch my mind. I am aware of my mind. I take action to redirect my mind towards stillness and peace. If I make peace with myself by being courageous enough to face the truth of myself, I am one step closer to making peace with my soul. It is a practice. Author Sogyal Rinpoche of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying says: … learning to live is learning to let go. This is the tragedy and the irony of our struggle to hold on: not only is it impossible, but it brings us the very pain we are seeking to avoid. Through weathering changes we can learn to develop a gentle but unshakable composure. Our confidence in ourselves grows, and becomes so much greater that goodness and compassion begin naturally to radiate out from us and bring joy to others …

In Yoga there is Savasana or, in english, Corpse Pose. One of the practises of Corpse Pose is a short meditation in which you ask yourself whether or not you are ready to die and leave the Earth in peace. Questions such as “Is there something that I need to say to someone?” or “Is there something I need to do for someone … for myself?” or “Is there something I would still like to do?” You will receive an answer, especially if you are open and listening. Your soul will speak to you. Introspection and contemplation of death will bring you a deeper sense of the meaning of your life and all that you cherish so that you can act on this awareness now, instead of feeling regret or remorse because you no longer have the time to. Reflecting on death can bring about a real change in the depths of your heart and wake you up to life.

Making peace with your soul on a daily basis:

• Learn to breathe and still your mind. Meditation opens you up to the exhilarating spaciousness of your true nature.
• Practise gratitude and become happier, healthier, and more energetic. Research has shown that gratitude journaling relieves pain and fatigue for people with neuromuscular disease. Gratitude is actually a gift you give yourself.
• When you make peace with yourself you take a hard look at everything you have ever done and you remind yourself that you have learned.
• All the self-reproach, guilt, disappointment, self-hatred and anger that you direct to yourself simply take you away from peace. Be kind to yourself.
• Step on your pride. Resolve conflict. Open to love and enrich your life.

It is never too early to start. May peace be with you.

Several years ago Dan and I created a short documentary in French, with Seniors from the Laurentian region.  Enjoy. click here