– How do we find Inner Peace whatever the external circumstances? –
Be the Change
A common phrase that we hear from participants in our programs, and from clients that we work with in the coaching space is “I want to feel happy, peaceful, and content”. Many people seem to think that if only external circumstances were different, then they would find the peace, happiness and contentment they are striving for.
In Mindfulness, we move our focus from the external to our internal space and explore ways to build our ability to be with “what is” with balance, calm and wisdom.
Mahatma Gandhi said that “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source for our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”
Be the change you wish to see in the world. In this world that can feel overwhelmingly chaotic, uncertain, and at times, crazy, it is helpful to have a ‘practice’ that builds the capacity to remain steady, grounded, and peace-full. This is one of the benefits of Mindfulness and can lead to skilful responses to external events rather than automatic knee-jerk reactivity.
An exercise that you can try this week is to pause when you notice you are being swept up in the negativity of what is happening around you, and wishing for things to be different. Bring your attention to your thoughts and take a deep breath. Then see what happens when you shift your thinking from what is ‘wrong’ out there and instead identify one thing that you can change in yourself – whether that’s to change your thinking, a belief or perception, your response or to identify some action that you can take.
For details of our next MBSR program, please go to http://www.simplicitycoaching.co.za/mindfulness-coaching/