“Is there a difference between happiness and inner peace? Yes. Happiness depends on conditions being perceived as positive; inner peace does not.” -Eckhart Tolle
One day not too long ago, a friend of mine, disgruntled about her lot in life said to me and I quote, ‘If I’d only find peace in my life then I know I’d be happy.” I thought about this for a while and suggested that peace and happiness have nothing to do with each other as one is not inclusive of the other.
Peace is being able to sit in the storm of life and be tranquil in the face of adversity or good fortune. This doesn’t mean a lack of feeling, for we are emotional beings, but a certain calmness that emulates from within no matter what colors give expression to each moment. This allows for the faith which goes hand in hand bringing harmony to our existence. And notice it’s not only the tough situations where we need to strive for peace. Joyous occasions can lead to stress and a lack thereof. The storm is the metaphor for life and all its circumstances.
Peace isn’t the absence of challenge in your life. It’s grasping the currents that sail forth out of the darkness of our own thinking thus sailing into calm waters.
©jc2019-9… Images by Pixabay
Very well put.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate your comment.
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I agree with you, jc….
I love these words…”Peace isn’t the absence of challenge in your life. It’s grasping the currents that sail forth out of the darkness of our own thinking thus sailing into calm waters.”…I think I can do that!
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Thank you! And yes you can. And thank you for your calming words… jc
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My pleasure, jc…
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enjoyed this peaceful reflection, JC!
i commented the other day, which may have
gone into a spam folder, as comments did on other blogs 🙂
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It makes me smile whenever I hear that technology didn’t get it right, it needed a human touch… jc
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I loved this, every word, but your final paragraph is golden.
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Thank you, that is so kind of you to say. I’m glad it touched you. If anyone were to ask me what do I get out of blogging it would be that… a kind word spread throughout the universe.
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This resonates with me JC. Personally I have found that constant peace can be elusive, but when I experience times or moments of peace I truly savour them, because I know it may be fleeting, but I also know it will return later. On a personal level I think we sometimes need the tumult in between the times of peace in order to really appreciate the peaceful stages. Having said that, I do constantly yearn for permanent peace. Excellent final paragraph – sums it all up.
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Thanks… It’s just like opposites, what do we know of war if we don’t have conflict? Except I beleive we take it too far. I wonder if we will ever see the day when such things as war and conflict will be solved by mindfulness and meditation.
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