What Happened to Peace?
As much as we like to identify as good, something's clearly missing.
As we witness what is happening on the world stage, there’s a sense that a major shift is taking place. Everything is in flux. As much as the majority of us seem to be advocating for peace (who wouldn’t?) it’s clearly not working. Conflict reigns. Hasn’t this always been the case throughout human history? Indeed, we don’t seem to be a very peaceful species despite most of us championing for peace. How can we find common ground amidst all the chaos that surrounds us?
The Road Less Travelled
I believe we are too quick to label conflict to live outside of ourselves and to be caused by external, uncontrollable forces. Is this sometimes the case? Yes. Is this most often the case? Also, perhaps yes. What causes all the conflict we see outside of ourselves and how are we contributing to it? I believe what we are fundamentally missing is that there seems to be an enormous amount of hypocrisy amongst many who claim to be pro-peace. The truth is that peace begins with us. Not with governments, official authority figures and your annoying neighbour who’s always causing a stir. Peace is an inside job.
Division
Unfortunately what I am observing in a lot of people is that the peace that they are championing is conditional. Conditional peace. That is definitely not the kind of peace we should aspire to or settle for. Conditional peace is essentially a breeding ground for conflict. It’s justifying acts of violence, hate, verbal slurs and other forms of negativity targeted at others because apparently it’s warranted. Conditional peace suggests that there are some instances where violence is acceptable and even celebrated. This is in fact the root cause of a lot of conflict and the root cause of the lack of peace. It’s hypocritical to say the least! Yet, until we call this out, in ourselves and others, peace will not prevail.
What is Peace?
I believe peace is a state of being. It’s serenity, grace, love. It stems from a deep acceptance and love of self. This radiates out to the world around us. It’s never wishing harm on another being. It’s wishing happiness and peace for others even if you fundamentally disagree with them. It’s a higher state of being. Where you can see those who live in conflict as wounded little children stuck in their ego and fear. Not as enemies. It’s not being so soft that you are stepped all over. It’s a peaceful, confident, calm strength that cannot be stirred or shaken. Have I myself mastered this state? No, but I’m working on it. I believe this is a difficult state for most of us to fully embody. Yet we must strive towards it. We cannot accept the status quo.
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is Conflict?
Let’s also take a look at the root of conflict. Again, this is not something that resides outside of ourselves. If you are a person who believes in, and wishes for, peace (most of us claim to be) then ask yourself where you are contributing to conflict. Perhaps you will say that you don’t contribute to conflict. Yet is this true? Ask yourself and dare to be honest. Are you gossiping about others? Are you sometimes manipulating others to get your way? Are you speaking ill or making fun of those in public office who’s policies or personalities you disagree with? Guess what? That’s not peaceful behaviour. It’s not greatness. We have to stop and look at these microagressions that we are committing, contributing to or letting slide. Normalising this type of behaviour is a big contributor to conflict and as a byproduct, lack of peace. It’s smallness. We can do and be so much more than this. Stop excusing these minor offences in yourself and others. They are large contributors to conflict and speak to a much larger problem. Our lack of inner peace and self autonomy.
A Sense of Belonging
Often these type of microagressions are committed because subconsciously they are serving a need. What is that need you ask? A sense of belonging. In a world where certain opinions and certain narratives have been normalised it’s ever so comfortable to take a verbal stab at someone else if it will win you some brownie points and a good laugh. This makes us feel accepted and even in some cases applauded and celebrated. Just for a brief moment, we’re part of something and we feel significant. We must resist this temptation to play small for quick, insignificant wins. What this really speaks to on a deeper level is that this behaviour that so many people are engaging in is stemming from a small sense of self. It’s a lack of self acceptance that drives this behaviour. Most are not consciously aware of what they are doing or why they are doing it. They are therefore also not aware of what they are contributing to on a larger scale. Those small wins that boost the ego, make our souls shrink and fuel conflict and division whilst driving peace further away. If you want peace, stop contributing to conflict and division in any way. Dare to be different and step away from the norm. Don’t expect to be applauded for this. You won’t be. You’ll need to applaud yourself.
Just because something is the norm, doesn’t mean it’s right and if we wish to evolve we can no longer accept the norm. The norm sucks! Let us therefore aspire to more.
Let us aspire to be great.
Let us aspire to integrity.
Let us aspire to truth.
Let us aspire to serenity.
Let us aspire to peace.
It starts with you and who you choose to become and what you choose to embody. If you want peace, you have to be peace. You can’t afford to take part in the behaviours that, though normalised and seldom questioned, are contributing to conflict. Peace starts with you.
Get a FREE copy of my eBook “Silence & Surrender” ✨
Absolute and permanent peace starts with inner peace and once we experience it, we do not let anyone meddle with it. Imagine if majority of population decides to maintain their inner peace, who on Earth can dare to fidget with the outer peace. Loved it as always, Hege.
Great message that we’re all accountable for peace. I like“Peace is an inside job.” We’re told to be peaceful in a violent world without being taught how to do it. Willpower is not enough.
What has helped me work through my anger and rage and be more peaceful has been looking at my own violence, healing my wounds, practices like loving- kindness, and other means for purifying my heart from conditioning.