Peace from Within

I read a quote a while back.
"To be at peace, you must create peace."
I truly believe this.
Does that mean I live it all day every day?
I wish.
I'm only human, and outside events get to me.
But I do work against that. I do work for peace in my life. For the most part, I'm happy to say, I'm successful at that. At home, it's easy. We have a peaceful home. It's crazy, don't get me wrong. Barking dogs, playing kids. But it's peaceful in that there isn't fighting, anger, screaming, or drama. It's outside sources that challenge me; work issues, and other random things.
Sometimes I lose sight of my goal of creating peace, but I'm unfailingly drawn back to it. (it was even the inspiration behind my last tattoo.)

I recently read this post over at Cafe Kel. It brought my thinking back to creating peace once again. What a wise Cherokee Chief.
Think about it...is there anger, strife, or drama that you're feeding?
Would you feel better if you eliminate that from your life?
When you have inner peace, you can remain calm while everything around you is chaotic and out of control.

On a message board I used to read, one member often said "Don't let people rent too much space in your mind." You, and only you, control how much space you let people occupy in your thoughts. If you make a conscious choice to focus on the positive, and not dwell on the negativity, it can make a big difference in your life.

This is another blog post I found inspiring.

I love to add quotes like these to my blog, myspace, computer wallpaper, etc. to remind me where my focus should be.

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."
- Buddha


"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."
- Otto Rank

"As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness."
- Dalai Lama

“Acceptance of others, their looks, their behaviors, their beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquillity -- instead of anger and resentment”. (unknown)

“When you're a beautiful person on the inside, there is nothing in the world that can change that about you. Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance. The Lesson: If you can't accept yourself, then certainly no one else will.”
Maalanyc Sasha Azevedo

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” Peace Pilgrim Quotes

Creating inner peace is a journey, not a quick fix or a destination.

Do you have people or things taking up too much space in your mind? Things that you just need to let go of? Think of how freeing it would be, not to have these things running through your mind, occupying your thoughts.
It's up to you to let it go. Can you do it?