How to Find Peace
“Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.”
~Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching
Sometimes life is difficult. And when it is, no matter what you do it seems like problems lurk around every corner.
I have a friend whose community has been flooded three times this year. They used to get floods every dozen years or so, then it happened in 2005, 2010 and now this year–3 times. She is losing patience, and money.
More than once this year she has questioned her choices. I knew this was a flood zone, so why did I buy here? I knew I shouldn’t have added carpet to the basement, yet I did. She seemed to be upset with herself over her decisions, but in reality, she felt helpless about these floods. They are controlled by nature.
She was ready to give up her house, but the community is blessed with low crime, caring neighbors and an abundance of nature. And this time, after the flood water--which barely entered the house the third time--receded, she sat outside on her front porch.
It was a Saturday afternoon and there was still a chill in the air. Yet the sun shone on the glistening street, the river behind her hummed, and the children rode their bikes up through the neighborhood.
As she sat drinking tea, a neighbor walked by and they chatted for a few minutes. Then he carried on, and she realized how fortunate she was to live in such a bright, blessed community.
Suddenly she remembered she was supposed to be questioning her choices, yet sitting on the front porch, she was happy that she lived there. And in that moment she felt compassion for her frustrations, and kindness towards herself for her choices. She knew why she made the choices she did, and this colored her world. At the moment her small world was brilliant in golden sunshine.
What choices have you made that you questioned? Is there another way you can look at your choices to bring you more peace, and compassion for your situation? No doubt your new attitude will reflect beyond you into the world around.
--Tina Su
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“Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.”~Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching
Sometimes life is difficult. And when it is, no matter what you do it seems like problems lurk around every corner.
I have a friend whose community has been flooded three times this year. They used to get floods every dozen years or so, then it happened in 2005, 2010 and now this year–3 times. She is losing patience, and money.
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