Peace and Happiness

Padmini Arhant

The world in turmoil, uncertainties and tribulations,

How does one find peace and happiness?

Some may think, one has to meet the criteria with wealth leading the chart.  There are many, despite immense wealth at their disposal don’t find time to experience peace and happiness.

Some define happiness as pleasure derived from activities, profession and personal interests and hobbies not excluding favorite food items and so on. Spending time with family and friends offers joy to some folks enjoying people company.

Peace requires calmness and most importantly contentment in life.

Most problems in life originate from wants exceeding needs that often creates confusion and unnecessary tension.  Beginning with eating habits, there are some who eat more than the stomach can hold triggering hosts of issues related to digestive system. When you consume anything above capacity, you subject yourself to unwanted difficulty.

There are some cultures that overfeed guests forcing them into a glutton. The polite refusal never works changing hospitality to hostility.

Learning to say enough is key to happiness. The same principle applies to material possessions and anything that might cause stress, the number one factor undermining any prominent effects in life.

Why do some visit doctor’s office more than any other place barring congenital and hereditary illnesses from birth?

The habits like smoking, drinking, binging and other addictions are responsible for diseases that impair normal function. Then there are some who prefer a sedentary life when simple workout like walking could energize them and help losing weight and reduce obesity.

Above all, stress is a common syndrome disrupting healthy living.

Though modern lifestyle has configured physical exercise in the busy schedule with gym and fitness centers in every minor and major city attracting youth in particular, stress is related to clutter in mind.  Stress contributes to great deal of physical and mental ailments that could be prevented through understanding, finding solutions and overcoming challenges without being overwhelmed in life. Communication, counseling and family assistance are all useful in stress management.

The financial status is predominant in increasing stress with trail of health conditions following anxiety.

The worries, fear and concerns about real and imaginary woes make one forget to live the moment.  The Chinese proverb beautifully attributes present as gift, so the reference present is indeed a present in life that merits attention.

Many often dwell in the past or yearn for the future ignoring the current time allowing that to slip away from them. The time evolution in tomorrow becoming today that goes by as yesterday i.e. future transitioning to present and then becoming past is impetus for purposeful existence.

There are examples of extremes with some hoarding not sparing a dime in the hope for tomorrow that may or may not arrive for them. The other splurging with none left for the next minute place them in precarious situations. Both are bad and everything in moderation is best suited to live life to fullest.

Personal well-being is critical for both peace and happiness. No amount of wealth and fineries can guarantee peace and gladness in the absence of good health, balanced state of mind and significantly positive deeds or Karma.

Healthy living combined with inner development refraining from attitude aimed at squabbles and indiscretion alleviate troubled mind. Non-interference in others private affairs channeling resource towards self-improvement is wise.

Guilt plays a role in exacerbating stress straining energy and thoughts inhibiting clarity. The chances of erroneous decisions during this period is fairly high.

Guilt free mind is usually relaxed and adapts well to demanding and ordinary routines at ease. There isn’t too much effort and toiling required in attending to responsibility. When the mind is rested after meditation and clear of mess, the position enables better focus and rational involvement.

The madness to accumulate wealth by any means never cease. In the process, life is entangled more with financial debts or safeguarding assets acquired at others expense.

Money could buy tangible goods depending on affordability. Notwithstanding material incentives lure some to trade honesty, loyalty, integrity and individual respect.

However, money and material value cannot purchase real peace.  Peace is a treasure with no substitute. The peaceful mind is a bliss and permeates inner self and around.

Peace is reflected in truthfulness, caring and compassion, humility and modesty.

Being peaceful within is a unique sense that arise in the course of life struggles and constant trials as the learning curve not submitting to negative forces testing the will and mettle at personal level.

There are misconceptions about consequences to actions in life. Some slight the fact as untenable. The analogy in this context is when physical body and mind are abused due to neglect and irresponsible behavior viz. the damages to lung and respiratory system from smoking, liver from alcoholism, fatty substance loaded in bad cholesterol clogging arteries that in turn transforming to heart disease, excess sugar and carbohydrate elevating blood glucose symptomatic of diabetes and salty diet raising blood pressure…are evidently outcome from unhealthy way of life.

Similarly, the reckless conduct and deliberate wrongdoings to hurt others are not without repercussions.

The major obstruction to internal peace are greed, envy, ego, temper, hatred, prejudice to name a few that are counterproductive.

In conflicts and disputes affecting majority, the qualities such as patience, perseverance via constructive dialogue and optimism rewards peace.

Human mind is a battle field confronted with discord and contentions. The feelings from the heart and emotions run high producing reaction and clouds judgment. When apathy replace empathy, the egocentric notions deny access to reasoning faculty weakening the ability to resolve matter amicably at everyone’s best interest.

There is also lack of knowledge on facts with fabrications dominant in opinion formed from hearsay.

Inner peace is possible with self-assessment for strengths and weaknesses, eliminating negativities, harboring goodwill and appreciation of life. Any attempt to harm others inevitably result in self-infliction of pain and depravation.

Peace in the nuclear age is a rare phenomenon and also considered not profitable compared to warfare – the favorable option. In the backdrop of the quest for conquest on the rise escalating territorial disagreements with little or no regard for sovereignty, peaceful settlement not only save lives but also an opportunity to transform adversarial relation to economic partnership.

Peace over violence and warfare has unlimited potential for economic growth and progress.

Peace and happiness are imperative in promoting healthy lifestyle and welfare. When the environment is peaceful and people are unhappy, that state is vulnerable to unrest from within and foreign instigation. Conversely, chaos and turbulence upset happy atmosphere.

Where there is happiness there is peace. Happiness and peace together bring smiles and laughter boosting living standard.

Universally, peace and happiness are a blessing that benefits all.

Peace to all!

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

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Spouse in Divine Mission