http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-secret-to-peace.html
The Secret to Peace
By Susan Corso, Ode Magazine
Acceptance is the key to change, and the key to peace.
“On the other side of acceptance is where peace exists, where the solutions are,” says Ariane de Bonvoisin, author of The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier
In 27 years of counseling, I have found that what Ms. De Bonvoisin says is always true. Always. No exceptions.
Do you believe me?
The opposite of acceptance is resistance, and strangely, resistance is what magnetizes to us exactly what we don’t want. In facing whatever we don’t want, and accepting it as it is, we are then able to reach peace around whatever the ‘it’ is.
Try this scenario: You really dislike your current job. Really dislike it. You want to quit, but for various reasons, you can’t. Rather than continue to resist the job, begin to find things you can appreciate (and therefore accept) about it. I’ve seen it work over and over again. When acceptance comes, change can happen.
Think of the thing you most resist in your current life. It could be a relationship, a task, an assignment, anything. Notice your own resistance to it. Begin to switch your resistance to appreciation, and you will find yourself living into acceptance of what is. Once you accept what is, it’s pretty easy to change it.
One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is that we actually resist peace on this planet. We make peace a when/then possibility. When I lose 15 pounds, then I’ll be at peace. Why not be at peace with the 15 pounds, and let them melt away?
When there’s a Republican/Democrat in the White House, then I’ll be at peace. Why?
When I’m out of debt, then I’ll be at peace. Why? Why wait to be at peace? What do you get from waiting, from postponing peace? I don’t think we get any benefit from it.
Like the gift of the present moment, peace can only exist in this moment–now. And then the next now. Delaying it doesn’t help anyone.
Try acceptance if you want peace.
Ode, the magazine for Intelligent Optimists, is an international independent journal that publishes positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. Click here for your FREE issue.
More from Megan, selected from Ode magazine (18 articles available)
related stories
-
(35 comments)
-
(28 comments)
-
ode5
(56 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
6 comments
add your comment »This is great! Acceptance is something I struggle with at times, so this was a wonderful article to read. Thanks, Megan.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Great post, the first line says it all. Thanks for posting this and for introducing me to Ode magazine.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Wow! Powerful statement...so easy to understand yet so difficult to put into practice.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
This is a nicely written and short article that should be posted on every refrigerator. So often, women struggle to make their lives perfect and wonder why their husbands seem to not be trying as hard. Really, I think men are more likely to accept things as they are. The longer we are married to them, the more we learn how to be that way, too. That's when acceptance settles into the long-term relationship and we find more peace with ourselves.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT POST, I HAVE A GRANDSON THAT IS GOING TRHU A SITUATION AND I PRINTED THIS ARTICLE FOR HIM I KNOW IT WILL HELP HIM
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
This is a great post. I am constantly struggling to keep myself present, accepting, and peaceful in each moment. It's so hard to deprogram decades of habits, but I am trying! Those little glimpses of peace are great motivators... Thanks for the writing to remind us to be present and not to resist our present situation, whatever it may be.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: