Peace of Mind

How do we find peace of mind in a world that seems to be spinning out of control? The answer lies in quieting the busy mind. Yet when we try to sit still for a few moments our mind seems to be overflowing with thoughts and emotions and we wonder if peace of mind is even possible. Sometimes I wonder if we even allow ourselves to be at peace.

One morning as I was sitting quietly for a few minutes before a busy day, this thought crossed my mind:

"I accept all good things for Michael."

I visualized going through the day without wondering or worrying about what would happen in each situation; instead, I envisioned all good things coming to Michael.

What I felt was a peaceful state that lasted throughout the day. Even when things weren’t going as planned, my perspective shifted as I saw the bigger picture.

A few days later, I mentioned to a friend how this simple exercise greatly improved my peace of mind. She replied, "Michael, what you’ve found is present moment consciousness and allowed yourself to succeed."

The next time you want a little peace of mind, take a few moments to breathe fully and accept all good things for yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel and how many good things do come into your life.

The Shell

One day while walking along the beach, I found an abalone shell in the sand. When I picked up the shell, I immediately felt the rough texture of the outer shell that protects the abalone from its environment and predators. As I turned the shell over, the beautiful iridescent colors and the smoothness of the inner shell was the opposite of its rough exterior.

The abalone shell reminded me of the people we see everyday. Each of us has a rough exterior that faces the outer world and an inner radiance that reflects our true brilliance and potential.