Arts & Entertainment

Finding Inner Peace: Why World Peace is a Myth

Written by Emily Ferreira on April 9, 2008 11:48 am EST

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“If I had one wish, I’d wish for World Peace!” Okay, so who am I trying to fool? Who are you trying to fool? As children we are taught (and so we believe) that World Peace is attainable; you know, similar to how we are taught that an oversize Santa Clause can fit down a chimney…and we believed it. Fables are ingrained into our naïve minds as children and this includes the ever so famous myth that World Peace is within close reach. But, as we grow older and our viewpoints are struck by the harsh realities of life, one slowly realizes that World Peace is so incredibly far from being reached that many people simply stop trying to achieve positive change altogether.

While World Peace would be ideal for the dreamers, I think creativity and positive change arises out of conflict; mainly conflict created by diversity, conflict as a result of discomfort/pain, and conflict as a product of inconvenience. People that have proactively used conflict to inspire creative endeavors (in technology, medicines, etc.) and to generate a better cause have helped us reach to this advanced level of living. While not everyone has the resources or knowledge to go above and beyond in order to build break-through technological gadgets or find the cure for AIDS, there are still small-scale measures that each individual can take to produce positive change in their own lives as well as in their immediate environment. This is something that you, as an individual, have direct control over.

world peace

Image Credit: Cayusa

My approach and the one that I would prescribe for those trying to achieve some sort of positive, yet realistic change in their lives is called the “constructive inner-self approach” (a term coined by yours truly). Individuals first need to find inner peace, which will then reflect on the surface and assist in creating a well-balanced, healthy external environment for themselves and those in their immediate path. It is impossible to control the minds/actions of the larger population as well as the leading governmental bodies, so why not start within yourself… after all, you have control over you!

I am no expert at “the steps to finding inner peace” but one thing that I have seen make a huge difference in a person’s life is humbly accepting the fact that inner peace is not caused by superficial relationships and material objects, but instead by accepting the good, the bad and the ugly in one’s life and turning it into blessing instead of a curse. One may also argue that the definition of “inner peace” varies from person to person in the same manner that the definition of “world peace” is looked upon from different perspectives. I certainly couldn’t provide a definition for World Peace if you asked me to!

inner peace

Image Credit: carf

Once an individual has built a sense of serenity in their life, they can then focus all of their energy on pinpointing an external situation that requires a need for change, whether it may be volunteering at a shelter, raising money for breast cancer, or even adopting a child from Somalia. Utilize your inner enthusiasm to drive your efforts towards positive change wherever and however you see a need for change. Control your destiny and help to create a destiny for others that are in need of a helping hand. This will only and can only help you feel more fulfilled and provide more meaning and purpose to your sense of being in this world.

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