Responding to Life from Peace (instead of Frustration)

More important than placing our hope in a positive outcome (which is still good, just not the ultimate goal) is the capacity to accept what happens in life from a place of peace. It’s the ability to enter life from such an expansive state that no matter what happens, our peace is neither dependent on nor disturbed by what happens.

This is a much more powerful inner state than simply relying on positive thinking to bring about an outcome that makes us feel happy or peaceful. The difference being positive thinking is still relying on an external outcome to establish peace, while an inner state of acceptance means we’re already at peace, regardless of what happens.

The more expansive state of peace and acceptance will always carry a higher vibration than one that clings to needing an outcome to be a certain way to feel happy…

This is because the latter is still carrying a low level fear that says “if you don’t focus your thoughts in this positive manner, something ‘bad’ might happen”. The something “bad” is always defined by ego based on what it feels will threaten it’s happiness or peace; whereas an inner state of acceptance doesn’t define anything as good or bad…it just accepts the experience as harmless.

I really feel this subtle, yet HUGE difference in the two types of thinking (or states of being) is what takes us to the next level in our inner journey. It moves us past looking for a savior (positive thinking is a form of savior, since it’s investing in something that will bring us peace) to knowing we are already saved (i.e., safe and at peace).

It moves us from thinking the world can give us something (through our experiences, relationships, possessions, etc.) to fill us up to knowing we are already full. And when we’re full, the only thing left to do is extend from that fullness.

It moves us from seeking peace to living from peace. And when this happens, our entire inner state has been overhauled. We internally shift from seeking peace, love and joy to being the presence and extension of peace, love and joy.

Worldly things still happen—our car may still breakdown, we may lose a job or lose money, etc.—but our peace is never lost. And because we’re living from such a higher vibration, rectifying these situations becomes effortless. The car gets fixed with minimal hassle, we find a new job, more money comes into our life, etc.

It’s when we attach to needing these things either not to happen or to happen in certain way that we begin to create a resistance to life, which always results in inner conflict. As we learn to release this attachment, more peace will flow.

In working to consciously bring a greater degree of acceptance to what happens in my own life, I’ve noticed an expanded capacity to handle incidents “where things go wrong” with more grace…

Case in point: my car overheated yesterday and (somehow) I never reacted out of frustration. (I attribute this to my consistent commitment to the 5 minute exercise I shared with you a few weeks ago).

Usually, in situations like these, I have to consciously bring myself out of my reaction using my spiritual tools, but this time I was able to enter the situation from an expansive state that allowed for an inner acceptance of what was taking place before a reaction was triggered.

(I have to say, I was pretty impressed myself)!

I was easily able to see the grace in the situation…

My car started to overheat when I was almost to my destination (I was close enough to park at my destination), which meant I was no longer on the highway (which is where the majority of my commute took place). I was also in a safe area. All positives!

And the ultimate grace…

I was on my way to a coffee shop (woot, woot!), so I was able to go inside, grab a coffee and read until my mom picked me up. No waiting outside in the heat (on the side of the highway or in a less desirable of town), wondering when my ride was going to get there.

If my car was going to overheat (which it obviously was), it couldn’t have done it in a better place…there’s grace in that!

When we contract and shriek at stuff like this, we’re just making ourselves smaller than the problem, event or situation, whereas when we learn to embrace these things, there’s nothing we can’t handle—we become successful emotional navigators of life (something that I think is much needed in this world)!

All it requires is a small willingness to train ourselves to enter and navigate life from a more expansive state of inner acceptance. And, fortunately, life is not without examples to practice on! 😉

To embracing what happens (not matter what “it” is),

Shanna