Monday Motivation #116
Happy Tuesday!
After an eventful weekend, I decided to rest yesterday – just one reason this newsletter didn’t find its way to your inbox until today. That will happen from time to time. I appreciate your grace.
I’ve been focusing my energy on protecting my peace lately. You may feel like peace is something so far from reach at the moment. Or maybe you even feel a resistance to it.
But no matter what’s going on in the world, in our homes, in our relationships, peace within is something we can all uphold. Holding space for peace is not a weakness. It does not mean we’re turning a blind eye to important things or naively pretending that everything is fine. In times of distress it’s even more important to keep your peace. Peace within gives us strength to address the struggles around us. It gives us pause before we act and the ability to stay calm and focused. Peace helps us to stay aware of our weaknesses and to cultivate our strengths.
No matter where you are or what situation you’re in, the potential for peace is still there. That may seem hard to believe, especially in difficult times. And sometimes the body and the mind can feel just as stressful as the environment around you. I encourage you in those moments to turn your attention to the present. Let go of the thoughts. Maybe even let go of the sensations. Just observe what you know to be true at this moment. Even if it’s just for a few seconds, one inhale and one exhale. Give yourself permission to pause. That is where you’ll begin to find your peace again.
And each time you return to that space, it grows. We become more comfortable there. We begin to trust in its existence and in the power it holds. Perhaps we begin to find love resides there too. And patience, and gratitude. And all the strength we need to rise above any situation.
I’ll be honest with you. It can take time. But it’s a healthy habit that deserves our effort. We deserve the effort. And so do your loved ones. And your community.
I think it’s important to note that protecting your peace doesn’t mean you won’t feel anger or pain. Nor does it mean you get to ignore those feelings. What it does is give you the ability to trust those feelings when they arise, and to know when and how to react.
Elenor Roosevelt once said, “…it isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
I’ll say it again: Peace is not a weakness. It is a strength.
Holding space for it takes strength and time. But the beautiful thing about it is: the more you have, the easier it is to hold. And the more you’ll have to share with others.
It’s ok if you don’t feel it so much right now. Everyday is an opportunity for change. Perhaps today we can set the intention together – to find and protect our peace – in whatever way that means for you.
Maybe for you it doesn’t start with the breath. Maybe it’s going for a walk. Or painting a picture. Or writing some positive affirmations on post-its and sticking them all over your house. Or maybe it’s just turning off the news and calling a friend. Whatever it is, start there. Give yourself permission to pause and begin again.
Thank you for making it to this point with me. I appreciate you and your willingness to let me show up. I hope you know I’m here to hold that same space for you. You’re always invited to share how these words resonated with you. There’s so much strength in community as well. And I’m so grateful to be in community with you.
One last note before I go, I’m moving my newsletter from Mailchimp to Substack. You can still expect to receive it in your inbox each week, but you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy the community features there. I’m excited for this shift and I’m excited to continue to share my writing with you. Click here to visit my page on Substack.
Much love, my friend. I hope you have a good week.
Bye for now.
❤️