I got up early today and decided to watch "Meet the Press". Now I have to write in order to regain my balance, since I was so irritatate by the inane questions that were asked of the guest.
I wish there was someplace where we could get real information about the candidates without all the garbage that the media thinks is important. Why can't we support what is good in people rather than picking them apart?
So, after feeling some frustration I come back to my writing to return to my center and to remind myself that I have control only of me. I don't want to carry anger with me --but choose instead to pray for the people I think can best lead our country. I take a deep breath, let go of the "hook" that I felt while watching, and surrender this decision to Higher Forces.
Writing helps me to do that...to get disentangled from the crazy things going on around me, whether they are about politics, or work issues, or the 'problem' of the day.
I encourage others try this therapeutic endeavor. As we find peace within, we do more good for the rest of the world than any anger can ever do. I feel better now...and hope you will try this so you can feel better, too.
Peace, Sue
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Getting active
Okay...
I've had this blog for some time...and added things from time to time, but it hasn't "called" me as my journal does.
However, over the last few months I've been getting "Google Alerts" for journal writing and therapeutic writing. There are almost daily listings of sites and blogs that mention something about the therapeutic value of writing. There's been a surge in the references to blogs and the benefits of them. So...I am jumping in with some renewed "juice" to do this with a little more ferver.
The differences that I see between journaling and blogging are that this allows for connecting and community, while journaling is personal, safe, and allows one to communicate more directly with one's soul. That has always been of more interest to me...or at least I thought so. I know, however, that community is also important to me...so perhaps there is room for both.
So I enter this arena now with humbleness and curiosity. I'm not sure how much I have to say...in public...but will give this an honest and genuine try.
Would love to hear from others who may be tip-toeing into blogging...and who already keep a journal. Thoughts?
So...this 'getting active' could be great fun.
Peace to all.
Sue
I've had this blog for some time...and added things from time to time, but it hasn't "called" me as my journal does.
However, over the last few months I've been getting "Google Alerts" for journal writing and therapeutic writing. There are almost daily listings of sites and blogs that mention something about the therapeutic value of writing. There's been a surge in the references to blogs and the benefits of them. So...I am jumping in with some renewed "juice" to do this with a little more ferver.
The differences that I see between journaling and blogging are that this allows for connecting and community, while journaling is personal, safe, and allows one to communicate more directly with one's soul. That has always been of more interest to me...or at least I thought so. I know, however, that community is also important to me...so perhaps there is room for both.
So I enter this arena now with humbleness and curiosity. I'm not sure how much I have to say...in public...but will give this an honest and genuine try.
Would love to hear from others who may be tip-toeing into blogging...and who already keep a journal. Thoughts?
So...this 'getting active' could be great fun.
Peace to all.
Sue
Friday, March 14, 2008
Violence turns peaceful....
Hi all,
Here is a message from an email pal, Jean Hughes. It fits so perfectly into this topic I thought I'd share it:
Last night I was listening to Fresh Aire on NPR and heard Terry Grosse talking to two men- former combatants (their word not mine) in both the Israeli services and the other in the Palestinian service. At certain points for both of them they realized that fighting wasn't working and that something had to happen for peace to take place. THere is now an organization which has both Israelis and Palestinians working together to create peace.
I got the good kind of goose bumps. We can't push people into this. It has to be the people are work who can promote peace and perhaps promote is not the right word but I like the thought of people who have been waging war - now waging peace. If you go to www.combatantsforpeace.org you can read the stories and see what it is all about. It is very heartwarming.
Take some time for yourself and write about what peace would look like for you. What do you want to do to help wage peace.
Jean
Here is a message from an email pal, Jean Hughes. It fits so perfectly into this topic I thought I'd share it:
Last night I was listening to Fresh Aire on NPR and heard Terry Grosse talking to two men- former combatants (their word not mine) in both the Israeli services and the other in the Palestinian service. At certain points for both of them they realized that fighting wasn't working and that something had to happen for peace to take place. THere is now an organization which has both Israelis and Palestinians working together to create peace.
I got the good kind of goose bumps. We can't push people into this. It has to be the people are work who can promote peace and perhaps promote is not the right word but I like the thought of people who have been waging war - now waging peace. If you go to www.combatantsforpeace.org you can read the stories and see what it is all about. It is very heartwarming.
Take some time for yourself and write about what peace would look like for you. What do you want to do to help wage peace.
Jean
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Peace - Plus
I actually wrote this some time ago...but it still fits. Hope you like it.
Peace…Plus….
I’ve gotten the impression recently that if I talk about peace some people assume I’m not in support of our troops. That surprises me. Of course I, too, make my own assumptions; that no one wants more loss of life and that to come to a peaceful and meaningful resolution is always preferable to armed battle. And just to clarify, I do support our each of our troops—my son-in-law is one of them, and I do hope for their safe and quick return.
My belief is that we must all gather our energies together during this time of conflict, not to ADD to the conflict, but rather to SEE in our mind’s eye that outcome that we desire. We can contribute to world peace by finding our own peace. And as I do that, or work in that direction, I see that it takes me more deeply into my life, rather than going through the motions of daily activity, as though nothing serious were happening in the world. I found a quote from Ghandi that says, “You must become the change you wish to see in the world.” That’s what I mean when I say, let’s become the peace we want to see.
Another way to talk about this would be to say that we need to focus more on our inner peace whether we are actually in a war or not. There are different kinds of wars going on all the time, from domestic violence to armed robbery to gang shootings—as well as famine, disease, and worldwide poverty. Even without Iraq we would all benefit from focusing on more peace.
As I write this morning I realize that perhaps this war has been good for me. My awareness of all warfare is heightened, and I see that we all have a responsibility to help bring more health, more peace, and more awareness of struggle to our lives. As we start within ourselves, spreading then to our community, we can impact more people and create more in the way of peace, than we ever would have believed.
At a conference recently I heard a speaker ask the audience, “Why do you think you were born into the richest, most powerful country in the world?” That’s a good question and a great topic for journaling. What are the responsibilities that come from wealth and power? How can YOU honor that which you have been given? Or do you already? Do you feel as though you are part of that power? How do you own your power? I hope you’ll add your own questions here, and use one as a prompt for your journal writing.
Let us decide to not just sit back watching this war on TV but rather to reach out and create more peace inside, with our families and within our communities. Then, we can ALL be contributing to peace—and may just mysteriously impact all conflict. It’s a way to take our power and use it in support of ourselves, our troops, our country and the world.
Peace--Sue
Peace…Plus….
I’ve gotten the impression recently that if I talk about peace some people assume I’m not in support of our troops. That surprises me. Of course I, too, make my own assumptions; that no one wants more loss of life and that to come to a peaceful and meaningful resolution is always preferable to armed battle. And just to clarify, I do support our each of our troops—my son-in-law is one of them, and I do hope for their safe and quick return.
My belief is that we must all gather our energies together during this time of conflict, not to ADD to the conflict, but rather to SEE in our mind’s eye that outcome that we desire. We can contribute to world peace by finding our own peace. And as I do that, or work in that direction, I see that it takes me more deeply into my life, rather than going through the motions of daily activity, as though nothing serious were happening in the world. I found a quote from Ghandi that says, “You must become the change you wish to see in the world.” That’s what I mean when I say, let’s become the peace we want to see.
Another way to talk about this would be to say that we need to focus more on our inner peace whether we are actually in a war or not. There are different kinds of wars going on all the time, from domestic violence to armed robbery to gang shootings—as well as famine, disease, and worldwide poverty. Even without Iraq we would all benefit from focusing on more peace.
As I write this morning I realize that perhaps this war has been good for me. My awareness of all warfare is heightened, and I see that we all have a responsibility to help bring more health, more peace, and more awareness of struggle to our lives. As we start within ourselves, spreading then to our community, we can impact more people and create more in the way of peace, than we ever would have believed.
At a conference recently I heard a speaker ask the audience, “Why do you think you were born into the richest, most powerful country in the world?” That’s a good question and a great topic for journaling. What are the responsibilities that come from wealth and power? How can YOU honor that which you have been given? Or do you already? Do you feel as though you are part of that power? How do you own your power? I hope you’ll add your own questions here, and use one as a prompt for your journal writing.
Let us decide to not just sit back watching this war on TV but rather to reach out and create more peace inside, with our families and within our communities. Then, we can ALL be contributing to peace—and may just mysteriously impact all conflict. It’s a way to take our power and use it in support of ourselves, our troops, our country and the world.
Peace--Sue
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Peace...and Quiet
Peace and Quiet
“All I want is a little PEACE and QUIET!” How many times have you said that? I know I have said it countless times. Isn’t it interesting that these two words go together so often? As we all seek more peace in our lives and in the world, do you think we would find that peace more easily if we DID have more quiet? What keeps us from turning off the noise of our lives so we can hear ourselves think, and listen to what we feel and know?
Truthfully, while I say I want quiet, I do a lot of things that keep me caught in the whirl of activities, noise, and drama of daily life. Even as I sit here now, I’m aware of the email I can check, the phone that is ringing and my mental checklist with more things to do. Of course that says nothing about the constant interruptions of traffic and airplane noise, dogs barking, television and radio background noise Peace and quiet is a good thing…and why do I/we spend so much time avoiding it?
When I began journal writing more than 25 years ago, it was to enter more of the silence, to listen to my inner self and to quiet the external chatter that just seemed to add to the confusion of my life at that time. Journal writing did help—and of course, has become the tool that I teach others now to help them move into their own deeper wisdom and knowing. Why is it that we move into these deeper spaces most often when we are threatened in some way?
I know why journaling works for me---it’s because it allows me to start where I am---all wound up, threatened perhaps, and to gently move, moment by moment into more thoughtfulness and more quiet…and eventually to more peace. I become aware, as I write, about those things that are ‘poking me’ unconsciously, keeping me wound up, and as I untangle those thoughts and feelings I get a better grip on myself and begin to breathe more easily. I express the feelings that need to be released, and as I make more room inside, somehow the wisdom, or as I like to put it, the “magic” begins to bubble up. It’s rare that I finish a journal writing session feeling anything but calm, peaceful and more refreshed.
Now, as I write this I know I haven’t explained why I don’t do more of it, why I still avoid stillness and quietness at times. For one thing, it’s easier to stay on the same speed setting, so to speak, all the time. It takes work and energy to shift from our cultural norm of rushing through traffic, or spending frantic minutes at work, into a quieter and more peaceful place. To be truthful, from the busy perspective of our modern lives, it can seem almost like a waste of time to shift into a calmer place. How will we be able to get all those things done!!!! And yet oddly, when we are in that calmer and quieter place, ALL those things seem much less important.
My commitment for now is to make more time to explore this calm and gentle way of being. I am certain that as we all take more of this kind of quality time with ourselves, that we will automatically be offering more peaceful energy to the whole world.
Perhaps you could take some time now, to sit down and write about what’s going on in your life right now. Are you wound up? What needs to be released? What do you want, where are you going and what gets in your way? As you dump those feelings you will begin to see things differently as you read what you have written. After you dump some of your distress the peacefulness will begin to enter in, and with it will come more wisdom and more awareness of what is really important. Enjoy this new view of your life.Peace--Sue
“All I want is a little PEACE and QUIET!” How many times have you said that? I know I have said it countless times. Isn’t it interesting that these two words go together so often? As we all seek more peace in our lives and in the world, do you think we would find that peace more easily if we DID have more quiet? What keeps us from turning off the noise of our lives so we can hear ourselves think, and listen to what we feel and know?
Truthfully, while I say I want quiet, I do a lot of things that keep me caught in the whirl of activities, noise, and drama of daily life. Even as I sit here now, I’m aware of the email I can check, the phone that is ringing and my mental checklist with more things to do. Of course that says nothing about the constant interruptions of traffic and airplane noise, dogs barking, television and radio background noise Peace and quiet is a good thing…and why do I/we spend so much time avoiding it?
When I began journal writing more than 25 years ago, it was to enter more of the silence, to listen to my inner self and to quiet the external chatter that just seemed to add to the confusion of my life at that time. Journal writing did help—and of course, has become the tool that I teach others now to help them move into their own deeper wisdom and knowing. Why is it that we move into these deeper spaces most often when we are threatened in some way?
I know why journaling works for me---it’s because it allows me to start where I am---all wound up, threatened perhaps, and to gently move, moment by moment into more thoughtfulness and more quiet…and eventually to more peace. I become aware, as I write, about those things that are ‘poking me’ unconsciously, keeping me wound up, and as I untangle those thoughts and feelings I get a better grip on myself and begin to breathe more easily. I express the feelings that need to be released, and as I make more room inside, somehow the wisdom, or as I like to put it, the “magic” begins to bubble up. It’s rare that I finish a journal writing session feeling anything but calm, peaceful and more refreshed.
Now, as I write this I know I haven’t explained why I don’t do more of it, why I still avoid stillness and quietness at times. For one thing, it’s easier to stay on the same speed setting, so to speak, all the time. It takes work and energy to shift from our cultural norm of rushing through traffic, or spending frantic minutes at work, into a quieter and more peaceful place. To be truthful, from the busy perspective of our modern lives, it can seem almost like a waste of time to shift into a calmer place. How will we be able to get all those things done!!!! And yet oddly, when we are in that calmer and quieter place, ALL those things seem much less important.
My commitment for now is to make more time to explore this calm and gentle way of being. I am certain that as we all take more of this kind of quality time with ourselves, that we will automatically be offering more peaceful energy to the whole world.
Perhaps you could take some time now, to sit down and write about what’s going on in your life right now. Are you wound up? What needs to be released? What do you want, where are you going and what gets in your way? As you dump those feelings you will begin to see things differently as you read what you have written. After you dump some of your distress the peacefulness will begin to enter in, and with it will come more wisdom and more awareness of what is really important. Enjoy this new view of your life.Peace--Sue
Monday, October 29, 2007
Journal for Peace
(This was written near the beginning of the Iraq war...and still holds true today. It describes the point behind writing here..)
News of the war can be unsettling regardless of one’s political views. Who, I wonder, does not have difficulty watching and hearing about our servicemen who have been killed, captured, or missing in action? The news media carries stories all through the day and night that remind us of the missing peace.
Personally, I’ve found it necessary to turn to my journal to help me rediscover some of my missing peace. And it helps…some. Many people now share the belief, as do I, that finding our own inner peace, and doing what we can to lovingly spread it around, can certainly improve the quality of our lives, and may just be able to impact the world around us in a positive way.
Quantum physicists tell us that everything is energy. With that in mind, does it not make sense that adding to the fear and anger already circulating around the world will only fuel the current struggle? Similarly, if we find ways to experience more peace within our days, do we not then send THAT energy into the world? Perhaps in our own small ways, we can add to the missing peace.
How can our focus on personal peace be harmful? I’ve learned about the power of attitude and belief from years of working with cancer patients. As these people proactively step forward in their lives, choosing to expand the quality of their lives, they impact the functioning of their immune system—which then may affect their disease process. They have taught me that we have more power to influence those things we thought impossible---than we could ever believe. People with life threatening illness know about one kind of war, and can teach us about finding peace.
Journal writing is a tool used by many to feel more grounded, more aware, more in touch with their personal power, and also of their “still small voice” within. Research about journaling also supports its benefits as an immune system enhancer. So here is my invitation to you: to join me in writing about peace. We surely can improve our own quality of life—and just may impact this incredible world we live in. You can write when you want for as much or as little as you desire. It’s just for you.
For this week, describe a moment of inner peace. Consider those times recently when you got quiet and felt calm and at ease. Perhaps you’ll have a powerful memory of peace from the past, or an image of peace you hold for the future. Journaling has no rules, so there is no need to worry about spelling or grammar or punctuation. Just write from your heart, feel the quietness surrounding you, and open yourself to the possibility of more peace. Let’s rediscover the missing peace and bring it into the world.
--Sue
News of the war can be unsettling regardless of one’s political views. Who, I wonder, does not have difficulty watching and hearing about our servicemen who have been killed, captured, or missing in action? The news media carries stories all through the day and night that remind us of the missing peace.
Personally, I’ve found it necessary to turn to my journal to help me rediscover some of my missing peace. And it helps…some. Many people now share the belief, as do I, that finding our own inner peace, and doing what we can to lovingly spread it around, can certainly improve the quality of our lives, and may just be able to impact the world around us in a positive way.
Quantum physicists tell us that everything is energy. With that in mind, does it not make sense that adding to the fear and anger already circulating around the world will only fuel the current struggle? Similarly, if we find ways to experience more peace within our days, do we not then send THAT energy into the world? Perhaps in our own small ways, we can add to the missing peace.
How can our focus on personal peace be harmful? I’ve learned about the power of attitude and belief from years of working with cancer patients. As these people proactively step forward in their lives, choosing to expand the quality of their lives, they impact the functioning of their immune system—which then may affect their disease process. They have taught me that we have more power to influence those things we thought impossible---than we could ever believe. People with life threatening illness know about one kind of war, and can teach us about finding peace.
Journal writing is a tool used by many to feel more grounded, more aware, more in touch with their personal power, and also of their “still small voice” within. Research about journaling also supports its benefits as an immune system enhancer. So here is my invitation to you: to join me in writing about peace. We surely can improve our own quality of life—and just may impact this incredible world we live in. You can write when you want for as much or as little as you desire. It’s just for you.
For this week, describe a moment of inner peace. Consider those times recently when you got quiet and felt calm and at ease. Perhaps you’ll have a powerful memory of peace from the past, or an image of peace you hold for the future. Journaling has no rules, so there is no need to worry about spelling or grammar or punctuation. Just write from your heart, feel the quietness surrounding you, and open yourself to the possibility of more peace. Let’s rediscover the missing peace and bring it into the world.
--Sue
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Peace Power Writes
That's quite a mouthful isn't it? This blog is geared to all of us who seek more peace--and recognize the power in peace, in stillness, and in our writing lives.
As I watch the news, hear from our government officials, and see the daily shifts in the world I can become frustrated, angry, and even depressed. I've realized that I have power only over myself and whether or not I feel peaceful any given day. So I'm dedicating this blog to that kind of writing and sharing.... How can we use writing to help us all tap in to more peace?
As I watch the news, hear from our government officials, and see the daily shifts in the world I can become frustrated, angry, and even depressed. I've realized that I have power only over myself and whether or not I feel peaceful any given day. So I'm dedicating this blog to that kind of writing and sharing.... How can we use writing to help us all tap in to more peace?
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