As a Western woman traveler, what was the greatest gift bestowed upon me in Asia and South America? I became no longer insulated from the overwhelming level of poverty in the world. When a problem is right in front of your eyes, and if you are a compassionate person, your mind inevitably goes to how you can be part of the solution. It grew me.

We are not born here to just live a certain formula of life. Every society has its own unique formula, and rest assured, traveling has also shown me that we are all programmed from birth to live a certain way.

Part of our soul learning is to question the pat formulas, the way “it has always been done”, to break out of mental boxes and find new ways of thinking and living that are not only fulfilling to ourselves, but also uplifting to our fellow man.

When my partner and I I lived in Thailand, we befriended a young Thai woman named Poom. She worked as a waitress at a favorite little restaurant where we often went to drink coffee. It is the custom for young Thais to work hard and send much of the money back home to their very poor families. She was bound by her commitments, working very long hours, and seemingly with no prospects of ever doing better. I could feel her quiet discontent.

I soon came to realize that her greatest obstacle was not her limited education or her physical circumstances. It was her mind, which although so very obviously intelligent, was also taught to believe in limitations. It was stuck and unable to conjure any thoughts of other possibilities.

But when it comes right down to it, are we not all bound by “what is expected”? The great awakening in humanity right now is in both mind and heart, to see and make manifest the infinite possibilities rather than the limitations. Our societies, governments, and mass media are very good at reinforcing the limitations. That is our greatest mental challenge and where we must start, to filter out and see past that programming.

And this is our soul’s hunger… To grow and become more, to feel like our being here for awhile means something, that we have the personal power to manifest positive change in the world.

The time has come for all of us to break out of our mental prisons.

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Breaking Out © Susan L Hart 2021 / HartInspirations.com / Friendly comments welcome | Photo courtesy SadahamYathra, Pixabay

“Peace on Earth” is a popular wish and refrain at this Yuletide season. But as 2021 draws to a close, perhaps inner peace is the thing we should most intend for 2022. It’s not just that the world is a mess. For two years now, our inner peace has been completely turned on its ear.

As Siddhārtha Gautama said, “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” Yes, peace begins with each of us. If we do not somehow find our own inner peace in this turbulence, then we are contributing to the collective angst.

We are the power that will create change. There is no one coming to save us; we must save ourselves. That is the whole point to this extreme growth period in which humanity finds itself.

Rather than praying “to be saved”, ask for strength to endure the turmoil, to find knowledge that is truth, wisdom to recognize the path, and courage to do what is right. Align peacefully with your own wisdom and light, and trust that you will know the right things to do. You will gain the inner peace needed to walk in the world feeling balanced. You will become a spark of positive change.

Traditionally this is a season of exceptional joy and goodwill. My wish for you is that you will claim your happiness with your families this season. Do you remember Dr. Seuss’s story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? The Grinch steals all the decorations, special food, and gifts, hoping to wreck Christmas for the Whos. (Which, by the way, is psychopathic behavior. This story has a deep message.)

To the Grinch’s dismay, all the Whos in Whoville nonetheless emerge from their homes on Christmas morning, hold hands in a circle, and sing their traditional song of Christmas joy around the tree in the town square.

We must not let the Grinches of this world steal our peace and joy. The day we do that, we are beaten. No matter what, SING to celebrate All that Is.

Inspirational Quotes

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” ~ Albert Einstein

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~ Mother Teresa

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there would be peace.” ~ John Lennon

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Give Yourself Peace © Susan L Hart 2021 / Visit my ebookstore