To be at peace

The story of the titanic (1) is an evocative one. The passengers knew in a short period of time that the ship was going to sink and most were facing imminent death. Statistically, your chances of survival were slim. And yet, the vast majority of people conducted themselves in a respectful and polite manner. (2) Why, when the inevitable was at hand? This disaster could be used as a metaphor in our modern society – either for the inevitable environmental collapse or with our earthly extraction.

The brave passengers and crew of that immense vessel pose iconic questions: why live in fear and remorse; why not live a life of Ă©lan and dignity – why not aspire for excellence in our mortal life? These are questions that have plagued man since the beginning of recorded history and before, undoubtedly. What am I to do with my piece of time when I will be faced with the removal of this morsel of reality in the distant or not too distant future? How do I rationalize it all? You don’t – you live in the now — grateful that you have a now and you “cock your eye” to the future. You make your “peace with the universe” or with your God.

Recently, a man spoke with me about the demise of his wife. She had transited from this world some eight years ago and yet, he was still in emotional pain. This I understand, for all thinking and thoughtful human beings have experienced irreconcilable loss in their lives – be it a lover, a wife, a business, or a friend – the list is too large to fully elaborate.

Now comes the perplexing reality: I exist through my five senses: my sense of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing — and my independent consciousness. It is thus me who causes, in this case (as in all instances), my pain. It is not some present, external event because that has occurred at some time in the distant past. This profound hurt is occurring now, today, at this moment. It has no emotion unless I give it intensity or feeling – be it may pleasure or pain. It would follow therefore to ask, “Why not remember the joyful memories – why not make the remembrances happy ones?

Simply put: choice. I have come to accept pain as a real part of my life and I either cannot or will not make the necessary changes to alter my way of thinking. This is not some revolutionary thought: this is the truth. We all have habits or ways of thinking that we can define as deleterious to our overall well being – smoking, drinking, lack of exercise – or on the inside, in our thoughts, ideas that are pernicious and negative — the reoccurring mental loop of a past failure or regret. It is all so absolutely pointless.

It is so nonsensical as to make you believe that the person’s inertia to change is actually enjoyed in a perverse sort of way. They wallow being in a gloom-ridden state. Now, unless an individual has a chemical imbalance in their brain — real depression — and these are very few, (3) all of us can make the changes necessary to improve our lives; psychological peace is a basic human right and is available to all of us, whatever our life circumstances. We are left with a thought by the former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie (4): Peace is a day-to-day problem, the product of a multitude of events and judgments. Peace is not an “is,” it is a “becoming.”

A closing thought: We can all identify with the pain and joy of human existence. If we have no emotions, we forfeit our earthly consciousness. That being said, the integrated person, the healthy and happy soul knows that they must come to that point of peace to be productive in human society. The unquestioned life is not worth living, to paraphrase Plato (428-348 BC). We must then decide to develop into a better man or woman. It all comes from conscious choices regardless of our present circumstances. From Viktor Frankl: Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. (5)

To sum up: This week, we talked about finding peace in all circumstances: change is always possible.

To be noted: From the great physicist Marie Curie (6) — Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.
 

Just for fun: The Dream of Love

For reflection: Carl Jung – Inferiority Complexes and the Superior Self

This week on your positive walk, please reflect on your own personal peace.

Every day look for something magical and beautiful

Quote: I retain the ultimate power over my reality and how I think, feel and react.

Footnotes:

1) RMS Titanic: Fascinating Engineering Facts

2) Women and children first on the Titanic – but not the Lusitania

3) Depression: Facts, Statistics, and You

4) Haile Selassie

5) Viktor Frankl: Logotherapy and Man’s Search for Meaning

6) Marie Curie-Biographical