A Pocket of Peace
by Janice Lynne Lundy
A Pocket of Peace is an intentional pause. It is a sacred opportunity to stop, let go of any emotional or physical duress we may be experiencing, and remember the inner peace that abides within us. When life threatens to overwhelm, when stress, fear, or worry come to call, simply stop, take a breath, and practice this Pocket of Peace. Doing so will bring you home to your truest self - a woman who is naturally calm, clear, and wise.

Everyone needs an oasis in the desert of life.
Your personal oasis is waiting for you.
When you find it, drink deeply of its cooling waters.
Relax in the shade of its sheltering palms.
Be satisfied.
Be well.

~~~~~~~

Giving Yourself Permission to Stop

It’s something you’ve probably said to yourself countless times—‘I don’t dare sit down. If I do, I’ll never get up.’ But when inner peace eludes us, when it feels as if our mind and its thoughts are spinning out of control, that is exactly what we should do. Stop. Sit down. Give ourselves time and space for the natural rhythm of well-being to surface again.

I like to think of an overly busy mind as a jar of pond water. Imagine this. You’re holding an empty jar in your hand and you dip down to scoop up a generous portion of pond water from a stream at your feet. Once filled, you hold it up to the light and you are surprised to see the water full of movement. There are so many “things” in it—a myriad of little creatures and pieces of organic material—all swirling, as if in a miniature whirlpool. Round and round they go!

Next, you will begin to notice that the longer you hold the jar still, the movement of the water begins to slow. In time, all the particles will settle down, moving toward the bottom of the jar where they will rest peaceably on the bottom. Now the pond water actually looks clear, rather than hazy. It even feels calm, rather than chaotic, in this tiny jarred corner of the universe, a microcosm of our inner world.

This is exactly how our mind works. Once stimulated or energized by wild emotion, it will swirl like freshly captured pond water. It takes time for our thoughts to slow down; it takes a period of quiet or rest for them to stabilize. When we are able to stop and sit, the pond water of our mind will begin to settle into a more peaceful rhythm. A wonderful side benefit of stopping is that our thoughts will eventually become clear, as does our judgment. Remember, with greater calm comes clarity, and with clarity comes a reconnection with our inner wisdom.

Experts say that we think, on the average, 60,000 thoughts a day. I know from experience that I must think many more that that. My mind moves so fast at times you would think I was speed reading the world! It has taken time, dedication, and practice for me to be able to access inner peace but, thankfully, I am, a little more each day. The trick is to give ourselves permission to stop, then surrender to the innate and natural process of settling down. Just sit and sit some more, until your mind stops swirling and your thoughts become clear. This particular technique can work for you as well, no matter how busy-minded you may be. Just stop—and allow your truest, most peaceful self to emerge from the pond water of your mind. Inner peace can be yours.

Until next time …

May you be happy.
May you be well.
May you be safe.
May you be peaceful and at ease.

Love and Blessings,
Jan Lundy

©Janice Lynne Lundy, 2008
Learn more about Jan Lundy and "Pockets of Peace."

September's Pocket of Peace