Living in Peace

Lately I've been having more and more conversations that involve issues going on in our world today and differing views on whether or not we can ever live in a peaceful world. While many parts of these conversations have been extremely frustrating and mind-boggling to me, I am so happy that I'm having them because they are helping to refine my own beliefs about the world. There is one person in particular that has been essential to this refinement, and while almost all of his views are incredibly right-wing (pro-war, pro-nuclear bombs, no one can touch America, etc.), he has really pushed me past my own comfort zones and helped me to become much more convicted in my own beliefs.

One of the biggest topics we've been discussing is world peace, and whether or not it's truly possible. Let me start off by saying that I absolutely believe it to be, without any doubt in my mind. Now, the thing about world peace is that it's received a bit of a bad reputation. I mean, what do you think of when you hear the words, world and peace in the same sentence? Exactly...all of those pageant girls in the movies saying they want "long walks on the beach, happiness, oh...and world peace," just because it sounds good and gives them a better chance of winning over the judges with a "heartfelt" response. The movie industry (as well as other media sources) has done a fantastic job of making the concept of world peace seem like a dreamy, overly feminine joke. The contestants might as well have said that they want a world filled with fluffy bunnies, rainbows, and bubbles to break with their fingertips. At least this one might seem more believable.

One of the objections my friend had against world peace was that there are some people who truly like hurting others and don't have any feelings of guilt after an act of hate. At first, I was troubled because I didn't know how to dispute this. After a short period of silence and only a scoff and wrinkled brow to show my disagreement, my friend proposed me with this question to help clarify his point:
"What is one of your hobbies?" he asked.
"Painting," I replied.
"Why do you like to paint?"
I smile with enlightenment because I know what he's getting at, and at this point he closes his side of the argument by saying that there are some people in this world that just like to kill or cause injury as one of their hobbies. Just as where my creativity comes from cannot be explained, where someone's instinct to kill also cannot be explained. But there is one main problem that I have with this theory after thinking about it: I believe that EVERYONE is born good, and that evil is learned along the way. Do you really think newborn babies are thinking about harming or killing someone? NO! Somewhere along the way they learn from either their parents, peers or their environment--or all three--that it's okay to kill or that violent feelings are acceptable and that acting upon them is nothing out of the norm. Simply put, if you love inflicting pain upon others, you are extensively broken, and most likely grew up around others who were just as broken with seemingly no other way to release emotion. I refuse to believe that people are born with evil inside of them.

I can't say I blame him for thinking this way, or anyone else who thinks similarly, seeing as almost all of us are brought up to believe that violence and competition are the natural order of things. Just think about it: Darwin gave us survival of the fittest, which, if taken on a basic level only promotes the illusion of scarcity and lack; only the strongest, smartest, most capable ones win. And because no one wants to be left out, we fight, and hoard, and fear that our peers will have more than we do...and then we become separate. We no longer work together to create a symbiotic community where everyone has enough.

It came to me that many people laugh at the idea of world peace because they think we're talking about a perfect world, a utopia. I have to admit that at first I also had this idea in my head, which is why I was having such a hard time "selling" and making sense of it. After ruminating over this for a while, it hit me that living in peace does not mean being perfect. There are people in this world who are committed to peace (monks, youth leaders, meditation gurus, Reiki healers, etc.) who still make mistakes and go through tough times. A perfect world cannot exist because we humans are not perfect. When this realization came to me I breathed a sigh of relief because now I could completely get behind my belief and articulate it more completely.

Let me reiterate this: peace does not mean perfection. Peace means acceptance of the things, people, and situations that are imperfect. Peace means knowing that even if you make mistakes, you did the best you could with what you knew and followed your heart. Peace means that you no longer hold any long-standing grudges or resentments against anyone or anything, because you know that you also had a part to play in the situation; you take full responsibility for your own actions. Peace means knowing that you create your own reality, and that you have the power to change your own life through setting intentions and letting go of attachment. Peace means letting go of fear and trusting that everything happens for a reason, and that there is a bigger and better plan in store for us. Peace comes from loving yourself and being undeniably true to who you are, and knowing that you are enough exactly the way you are.

At the end of the day we all create our own little realities, each of them being right. If my friend believes that everyone will always want to fight and that war is the only answer, he is right. He will attract a life filled with experiences that prove this to be true based on what he wants to see. If I believe that world peace is possible, I am right too. Based on the intentions I hold, the thoughts I have, and the actions I take, I will attract more and more peace into my life and people who are committed to the same goal.

Even if I am completely delusional and may never live to see the day when peace becomes the universal reality, I would rather believe in something that brings me happiness on a daily basis than in something that brings me pain and suffering. Wouldn't you? I am committed to holding a vision where the world resolves conflict without feeling the need to inflict pain on the other, or by dropping bombs that kill millions of innocent people caught in the crossfire. I am committed to maintaining a balance of energy by meditating on a daily basis, grounding myself so that I may be a better human being. I am committed to peace in my own day to day life, and being gentle with myself even when I have moments of anger, judgment and fear.

I realize that if we continue the way we've been going, there is no way world peace is possible. That's why a major upheaval to the system is required, all of us who are broken need to become whole, and a commitment to being our true selves needs to be made...things I know won't happen overnight. I realize that people will still fight over things and people and stupid issues. I realize that people will disagree with each other and have moments of resentment, jealousy, anger, fear, and sadness. I also realize that it may need to get worse before it gets better and that negativity will always be present on some level, but I believe that all of this will have much less power over the individual, therefore the world in the long run. 

That's why it all starts with me and you. If you are waiting around hoping for peace while you're sitting on your ass, thinking that you can tear other people down or hold resentment in your heart, you will be waiting for a very long time; it will not come. Living in peace is not a given, it is a choice. When you intend it, think it, then be it, peace will be yours. What are you going to choose?