Inner Peace

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

When I was a child growing up in Scotland, there were times during the summer when my family would go on a ‘Mystery Tour.” This was a bus trip organized by a local tour company and as a child I eagerly anticipated the unknown destination while playing I-Spy and other travel games on the journey. It was exciting to see different towns go by as you tried to guess where you were going to end up; sometimes the Mystery Tour headed into the countryside and sometimes we ended up at the seaside on either the east or west coast of Scotland.

This type of mini-vacation is different from a typical day trip where you know where you are going and can plan accordingly. However, an unknown destination generates a lot of fun along the way as you note each landmark for a clue to where you are going to end up.

As an adult, facing challenges with unknown outcomes can be daunting and not pleasant, yet life’s journey is as much about your state of mind as it is about the scenery around you.

Meditation and the Breath
The breath and the mind are intertwined; when the breath is controlled the mind is also controlled. When you pay attention to the breath, you can read its signs and know whether your emotions are out of control and then adjust the flow of the breath in order to draw peace and harmony to the Self.

The old adage of counting to ten in order to stop an explosive outburst of anger or hurtful words that you can’t take back, probably stems from the wise knowledge accrued from meditation.

Troubled thoughts release adrenaline and stress hormones that increase outbursts of anger and undesirable consequences.
Rather that being tossed about by the chaos of life, with the mind filled with hurtful and punishing thoughts, you can observe your thoughts, your reactions, and choose to hold onto the peace that resides within.

Awareness of your reactions to what you experience enables you to release anxiety and block out the cause of your distress.
Breath control always brings you back to your source of inner peace and with awareness, it enables you to cultivate peace through controlling your state of mind and become calmer, more loving, and in full control of your emotions.

Affirmations
I have the freedom to choose how I will act, even when my first thoughts are not ideal.
Stillness spreads through me and surrounds me with each breath that I take.
I remain calm in a turbulent world.
I am in a state of serenity, joy, and love.

Om Shanti Peace