Our next guest picks up what I was saying yesterday and hones in on it. This entry made me cry. It was exactly what I needed to hear. She is my WeightWatchers leader and has been very successful in her own weight loss journey. She is one of the most optimistic people I know. She is a successful real estate broker, mother and wife and she is a devout Christian. She blogs at http://www.terraayres.com
When we look at the outside world around us, it can be overwhelming to try to find peace. It seems as if we need to change other people, other view points, societal beliefs, etc., in order to bring about peace, yet we have no real control over others.
What about starting from within? What changes could we make in our own thought to bring more peace into our own lives? What we DO have control over is our own thoughts and understanding. Most of us agree that we want a more loving, kind, forgiving, gentler society, so where does that start? Where can we have the most impact and control? I believe it is within our own thought.
Are we loving ourselves as the perfect children of God that we were created to be? Or are we critical, harsh and unforgiving when it comes to treatment and thought about ourselves? If we don’t love ourselves and cherish who we were brought into this world to be, how can we look outward and really share that with others? We often think we have to change to find peace. “I will feel at peace when”….when I lose 20 pounds, when I earn more money, when my kids grow out of this stage. I don’t believe peace comes from any “If this…then that” kind of mentality. That’s like chasing a mirage. We lose the 20 pounds or land the awesome job, then some other material circumstance arises and we find ourselves back in turmoil and unsatisfied. We need not wait to love and accept ourselves. We are perfect just as we are and when we can find a calm sense of that in this very moment, much of our inner turmoil will dissolve. Loving ourselves is not selfish. It is the exact opposite. It’s showing respect and gratitude for the life we have been given. Nurturing ourselves with self forgiveness and acceptance allows us to reflect those qualities so that others around us will experience it too.
All IS well!
Terra Ayres