How to Find Peace

Are you searching for peace?  We have been living in times that have disrupted our peace.  Change and unknowns have been the new constant.  This reveals to us what is most precious.  In the whirlwind around us, we want to find a place within ourselves that is centered and constant.  So, how do we find this?

This takes us to another question.  Where do you tend to look for answers?  Here are some ways we tend to search:

• Other people:  What expectations do others have for me?  We grow up learning this in school.  If I follow the teacher’s expectations, I will get a good grade.  If I follow my boss’s expectations, I will get a promotion.  With constant change, expectations can also be in flux, which disrupts our internal control.
• Systems and Structures:  What is the plan, procedure or protocol?  If I can have my routine, then I can find clarity and direction.  However, in the place of change, past structure and systems may not work.  Not knowing the plan can be an internal disruption to us.
• Results and Outcomes:  Here we often have a defined outcome that we want.  However, the results may not turn out the way we want.  And maybe the outcomes need to change?  What do the outcomes need to be during all this change?  This throws off our future and stability.

The above ways of finding peace are about ways of finding control for stability.  This is not wrong or bad.  Our current times are just taking us to a new level of opportunity to engage peace.  This takes us back to our original question.  How do we find peace? 

Peace can be found in surrender.  Instead of searching for other’s expectations, holding on to past systems, or clinging tightly to defined results, are you willing to surrender these?  We cling to these to rely on what has worked, but in constant change the way to go forward also changes.

Surrender is letting go of past ways and seeking clarity.  Here are some reflection points:

• Surrendering with other people:  What are your values and what values do you share with others?  Instead of seeking approval from others, where do you find clarity together in your shared values? 
• Surrendering systems:  Have you found a new system that you want to keep using?  Instead of depending on a past system, how do you find a new rhythm that can flow? 
• Surrendering outcomes:  Have you achieved a different result than expected and yet can still see the benefits?  Instead of holding tightly to outcomes, how can we have joy in seeing opportunities as they arise? 

How do you need to surrender to find peace?