12: Peace begins within. Meditation to return to inner peace when we are triggered

Peace begins within. We can use our breath wherever we are triggered or feeling resistance or frustration or any negativity. We return to this truth knowing nothing outside of us, even the everyday challenges and suffering and busyness of our responsibilities can take us away from the peace within us. With awareness, we can accept, breathe, and with kindness return to peace within. When things outside of us are tough, the greatest gift we can give is our own stillness and peace within. That calm energy radiates out. “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves” says the Dalai Lama. It’s not easy but it’s the work we are here to do. The more we practice the more quickly we can have the awareness that we are in reacting mind and stuck in thoughts of past or future, ruminating instead of being here now. That is the human-ness of us. It’s natural and how we grow. It’s up to us to return to being, to presence, to peace. Let this meditation help you return to the stillness and peace within you.