Journaling project, Day 4

[drwex]

Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no chaos, trouble, or hard realities to deal with. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still remain mentally, emotionally, and physically centered.

What’s something small that always brings you peace when you think about it? Why?

This is both an easy and a hard prompt. I don't think of "things" generally when I'm seeking inner peace. Usually my practice is just to let my mind wander where it will, note things that come up, and not dwell on anything. Very much a "thought as river flowing through me" metaphor. So it's hard for me to say "something would "always bring me peace" simply by calling it to mind.

The flip side of that is that I have spent time surrounding myself with things that I like and enjoy. I have a puppy and artwork and games and books, in all their forms. Maybe of all of them it'd be "music" because I listen to a lot of music and it has strong effects on my moods.

I know that there are people who have special "things" - talismans of a sort - I'm just not one of them.

Comments

[pygment]

For me I have a memory. Walking the Japanese tea gardens brings me peace when I think about it. I like having things that are not externally dependent so I can have peace no matter what.

All of the things you list are external. What are the inner things that bring you peach when you think about them?

[drwex]

I'm not sure what an "inner thing" would be. If it's a thought I have in my head isn't that an inner thing?

[pygment]

The river flowing through is is definitely in your head process and that can help, but the dog, and games, and stuff are not in your head except as memories. If you are needing to be actively physically engaged with them then that's not an in your head thing.

[drwex]

If that was so then that would be true. but the category is "things I think about", so...

[flexagon]

Thinking of my retirement savings at least always reminds me that I have alternatives to whatever's going on. That's not necessarily peace though.

I get closer when I think about some of the attributes I'm very likely to bring to any life situation (a technique I got from a therapist last year): no matter what happens I'm going to be a resourceful person who likes to train her body, who knows how to love (some) people and (almost all) cats, who is curious and reflective. It is, of course, possible to be all those things and be wildly unhappy, but I guess the point is I have a mental toolkit for well-being that will probably continue to serve me well. Which is nice.

[drwex]

Interesting way of thinking about it. Having a good toolbox is valuable; I just don't normally think of myself that way outside of work.

[dianec42]

I wish I had a talisman of my trip to Japan. The communal spa was the most amazingly peaceful experience.

There was a cross stitch of a Japanese spa that I wanted to get, but it was huge and expensive and frankly unlikely to be completed in my lifetime. By the time I decided I should buy it anyway, it was out of print and nowhere to be found. Probably for the best; I have too much stuff anyway.