I was listening to a lecture given by Dr Wayne Dyer : It’s Never Crowded Along The Extra Mile. In his lecture, he spoke of a woman named Peace Pilgrim, who gave up all her worldly goods including her name and walked across America five times promoting peace and harmony.
Over the course of almost three decades (1953-1981) she walked more than 25,000 miles, vowing to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." At the time of her death in 1981 she was crossing the U.S. for the seventh time. Dr Dyer attributes these symptoms of Inner Peace to her, although my Google search says that they were written by Saskia Davis.
I felt moved to write my own thoughts on these Symptoms Of Inner Peace. I trust that these “Symptoms” will also touch your heart and that you are also as moved to reflection as I was.
The Symptoms of Inner Peace
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
Have you ever noticed that 99% of all the fears you have held within you and that you have allowed to hold you back from living the life of your dreams, have never actually eventuated? I like these acronyms for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real and Forgetting Everything is All Right.
Do you remember the freedom of being utterly spontaneous as a child? I believe that we adults need to be in a state of awe and wonder and remember to remain childlike forever.
I’ve often met young people who are so serious in their outlook, that they actually seem old to me and I’ve met chronologically older people who remain physically and mentally young through their state of mind and youthful enthusiasm.
I intend to look for more opportunities to go and have fun, to be spontaneous, be childlike.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
The only moment we ever have is the present. The past is gone and the future may never come. Too often, we meet people who are forever putting off their good times till next year or in 5 years time.
Their good times always exist in some other present moment. The present moment is a gift. That’s why it’s called the Present.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
When I’m out walking or running, I often find myself catching bits of conversation from people passing by.
What’s the dominant tone of the conversations? They are mainly bitching or gossiping about what others have done or are judging how others are running their lives.
Anyone who understands even a little about the Law of Attraction will understand that this focus on negativity will only attract more of it to self. By talking about the negativity you observe in another person, you will attract exactly that from them. We need to deliberately look for the best in people. By judging people we are actually looking in the mirror.
I like the words of Dr Wayne Dyer; Suspend the need to be right. Instead of being right, just be kind.
A loss of interest in judging self.
How often do we sit in critical judgment of ourselves? Self criticism is so destructive and is in itself an affirmation, eg; I’m such a fool, I’m clumsy, I’m fat, I’m not successful enough, I’m a slow reader and on and on.
We are often our own worst critics. Learning be unconditionally forgiving of ourselves is empowering I encourage people to fall in love with themselves; not in a narcissistic or conceited way. Treat ourselves with genuine self-love as we would like others to treat us.
Louise Hay recommends that people get used to looking in the mirror deep into your own eyes and say to yourself by name: I love you, I really, really love you. It’s amazing how few people are capable of doing this simple act of self-love.
How can we expect anyone else to love us if we don’t love ourselves? Let’s start looking for ways to pat ourselves on the back. As Louise says, when something goes wrong, go to the mirror, look yourself in the eye and say, I love you, I forgive you and all is well.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
When this symptom comes along, we find ourselves minding our own business. Self-actualized people live their lives independent of the opinions of other people. We find ourselves not being concerned with explaining or interpreting what others are doing. We can just allow others to be whom and what they are without criticism.
A loss of interest in conflict.
Conflict becomes something that other people do. You find yourself moving on from people who thrive on conflict. You leave them in your past. You just can’t be bothered with that sort of energy.
You can’t pick a fight with someone who has no interest in fighting. Just pass on it, leave it be. If someone pushes in on a queue or in traffic, just let them. Respond gently and assertively rather than being reactionary.
People eventually give up on trying to have conflict with you. I recommend that people avoid watching the news as that brings the energy of conflict into our homes. If something important happens, someone will tell you. I defy anyone to feel more peaceful and contented after watching the six o’clock news.
A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
How many precious present moments of your life have you wasted on worry?
A great teacher said to Dr Wayne Dyer, “It makes no sense to worry about the things you have no control over, because if you have no control over them, it makes no sense to worry about them”. Then he said, “it makes no sense to worry about the things you do have control over because if you’ve got control over them, it makes no sense to worry about them.” He then said, “there goes everything it’s possible to worry about”.
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
Joseph Campbell said, “Follow Your Bliss”. I believe they are some of the wisest words ever spoken. Being in a state of appreciation is being in a state of allowing. This is how we go with the flow or get into the zone. In this state, we magnetically attract wonderful synchronicity into our lives. We literally put it out there. Don’t you just love that feeling of appreciation and enthusiasm? A perfect example, just observe your dog. By the way, Dog is God spelled backwards.
Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
When we feel inner peace, we have a deep feeling of belonging. Humans are the only species that bother with introspection and question our existence. The divine force or spark that opens a rose also resides in you.
Frequent attacks of smiling.
When we feel inner peace, smiling is natural. If we find ourselves frowning, it helps to stop, breathe, get into the present moment and deliberately turn that frown upside down. The physical act of smiling literally changes our neurochemistry for the better. A genuine smile is magnetically attractive. A genuine smile also lights up the eyes, which are the windows to the soul.
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
The Buddhists have a saying: “Don’t push the river”. To quote Abraham-Hicks: “Put your canoe in the stream and let go of the oars”.
Whenever we push against something or try to “make” something happen, what happens? We run into resistance. Let go and let God.
Be in a state of allowing, flow, the greatest things are achieved with a light heart ~ Ramtha.
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
Former President Bill Clinton talking to Oprah Winfrey about his book “Giving” said that giving unconditionally from the heart, almost felt a little selfish, as it made him feel so good to just give.
It is in the giving that we receive. The unconditional giving of love magnetically attracts love to us.
What we receive is a mirror of what we put out. Put love out there and enjoy inner peace.
