“Be in the world, but not of the world.”
The other day I put my t-shirt on inside out. I never noticed what I did until much later. I stepped out my door, and wandered down the beach to the coffee shop. Passing locals on the way I exchanged good morning nods. Some smiled and others responded with good morning back to me. Leaving Ruby’s after buying my orange juice when someone joked about my shirt, was when I actually became aware that, indeed, I had put my shirt on inside out.
As I walked home, I wondered how many people noticed my shirt inside out. I chuckled to myself and thought how it must seem to others when you are happy for no reason at all. Some will notice your joy and some will not.
To some it may seem that you are odd. The world seems to want you to have your life one-way. But, sometimes going in another direction seems inside out, but brings peace & joy into your life. Putting love and spirit first, carrying your inner being on the outside requires you to bring love & compassion from inside and letting go of the physical exterior you hold. Looking beyond the outward appearance of others around you to see each one as an expression of God is to be in the world, but not of it.
Each day we all have a chance to bring and keep peace in our lives. Our actions can lead us to peace or away from it, to our own personal torment. Daily practice and restraint are necessary to keep your mind at peace. The following are some ways to bring more peace into your daily life.
Be Indifferent: Practice detaching yourself from what is troubling your peace by recognizing that all is temporal and know that this too shall pass. Realize that no one can do anything to you unless you allow it.
Resist Fortune Telling: Know that all worry is just your inability to make a decision. Instead of predicting the future, decide to be patient and believe what is happening is best for all.
Follow Flow: Everything changes eventually and you should really expect this to happen. Rather than fighting it, try to surf the wave of the transient. In other words, go with the flow.
Stay Positive: For some people the idea of change is scary and it’s true that sometimes it can seem negative. We can end up losing those things that make us happy and comfortable. Things are bound to change. Just accept it and try to flow with it as much as possible. Rather than focusing on what you’ve lost during the journey, try to look for the positive in what you might find in your new life.
Be ready for Growth: Many times trouble comes when we are about to grow into a better person. It is God’s way of clearing the path for a new more peaceful life.
Excerpt from “Secrets To Life Book” by Chris Emmanuel
Book available at Chris Emmanuel Art Gallery (Sunbreeze Hotel) and Pages Book Store
