By Christopher Emmanuel
The other day I put my t-shirt on inside out. I never noticed what I did till much later. As I walked out my door, down the beach to the local coffee shop, I passed locals on the way and I said good morning nods. Some smiled and some responded back with good morning back to me. It wasn’t till I was leaving Ruby’s after buying my orange juice that someone joked about my shirt being inside out that 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 inside out shirt. 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 and carrying your inner being on the outside requires you to bring love & compassion from inside and letting go of the physical exterior you hold. Look 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 is necessary to keep your mind at peace. The following are some ways to bring more peace into your daily life.
Be in the World, But not of the World
a. Practicing 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.
b. 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.
c. 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. 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.
d. 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.
Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in The Sunbreeze Hotel , Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.
