Finding Peace

Finding peace in the craziness of our world is a learned skill.  We are born knowing that all is well – as we grow, life experiences teach us to fear, worry, and forget altogether how to reclaim peace.

With the current state of the world, it can be hard not to get lost in the chaos and magnify personal situations we are dealing with. 

We are made to live in joy.  Babies naturally seek joy and so they always find it.  They never fear, worry or stress about things unless their adult care takers are doing so.  We have the ability to reclaim that sense of peace and trust, regardless of the situations around us.  It is a consciously learned, or rather re-learned skill.  As we practice this skill, it comes more easily.

Peace begins within.  How we feel within is reflected in our environment.  We learn to match how we feel inside with what is going on around us.  When we are going through a difficult situation, or our country is in a state of chaos, we feel that way within.  Finding peace is learning how to be aware of what is going on around us without internalizing it.   If we are dealing with a difficult situation and we immerse ourselves in that difficult experience, letting that situation decide our emotions, it eventually spills over into other parts of our lives too.  Conversely, when we move ourselves into a state of calmness, trust or peace, regardless of the external state of affairs, we are able to view that situation with more clarity. This gives us space to find the correct answers or resources to aid us.Finding peace on a background of a stone labyrinth on the sand by the ocean

How we are able to move into a peaceful state of mind is different for each of us.  Here are a few ideas. As you explore, you will find which tools are most effective for you:

Meditation:  Meditation is an extremely powerful way to calm the mind and recalibrate your being.  This is not always easy to do.  Start by being in a quiet space where you feel safe and comfortable, and won’t be disturbed.  Sit comfortably and allow your body to relax.  Close your eyes and begin breathing deeply, allowing your body to relax further with each inhale and exhale.  As you begin to feel relaxed, go within and focus on your breathing – the sound of your breath and the rise and fall of your chest.  As thoughts arise, don’t linger on them and follow their path – just let them softly pass by.  The more you do this, the easier it gets for you to no longer notice individual thoughts.  Do this for 10 – to 15 minutes each day if you can.  If that feels like too much, start small and notice how you feel after each experience. 

Prayer:  Reaching out in prayer may help you feel more connected.  Whatever your belief system, use the tools that make you feel most connected and calm.

Music:  Music can be a great way to raise your vibration.  Listening to singing bowls or other instruments while breathing, can move you into a deeply relaxed state.

 Rhythmic sound:  Placing your hands over your heart and focusing intently on each heartbeat can slow the mind down. Listening to any repetitive sound with focus while taking deep breaths, allows you to detach from the external for a few minutes.

There are many more tools freely available that you can use to shift yourself into a state of calmness.  It begins with calming your racing thoughts and allowing your natural state of peace to rise.

Seeking peace is an evolving journey – join me in my From Trauma to Triumph Community as we walk this path together.

Many Blessing

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022