The peace dividend

World peace is an illusion. There has never been a time in history that was conflict free, and the chances are that there never will be.  Conflict is inherent to the human condition, and although wars can inflict the most horrible atrocities, conflict itself is often necessary before progress can be made.

The only real peace you can find in this world is within yourself. This is not a bad thing, and this in no way condones wars of any kind. It is simply a fact stated. When you live a peaceful life on all fronts, there is no need to worry about world events or anything else:  you have complete confidence that you will be more than taken care of no matter what happens. In this mindset, the events of the news recede from the front burner; they become background noise to what is happening right before your eyes.  You remain aware of things like the overall economy, Iran, North Korea, or the wars in the Middle East, but these external events lose their sting.

You can replace those events in your mind with personal peace, and you can then reap the peace dividend. Even if you discuss controversial world events with others, you no longer need to be angry or cynical; you can simply respond and say “I understand.” By the way, achieving and maintaining personal peace is by no means a passive activity- it requires consistent conscious effort. For example, you may choose to separate yourself from the energy of people who are in a complaining or victim mode, as you realize there is no obligation to surround yourself with  this type of energy. If these happen to be people that you love, you can still send them loving energy without being in their presence.

When you start making these efforts more and more, you may be surprised when you discover new things about yourself, including creative talents that were previously dormant.This too is part of the peace dividend:  all kinds of new experiences, pleasures, and opportunities get unleashed. You soon realize that maintaining a state of anxiety or unhappiness is a huge energy drain, and when this energy is applied to the sweet things in life it can seem a rebirth.  The universe rewards your efforts towards personal peace too, because a happier you is not just priceless personally, but also  impacts everyone you meet.