Keep Peace in Your Soul

We are entering our last few days of the Desiderata Project. It has been a wonderful experience. Today we welcome Priscilla Palmer as today’s guest writer.

Before I begin I’d like to say that I refer to God in this article, if you do not believe in God please feel free to substitute your own theory (The Universe, outside forces, or whatever else fits your beliefs.)

Please enjoy.

“And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, Keep peace in your soul.” -Max Ehrmann (in Desiderata)

As we pursue the development of ourselves, we realize that each of us has certain and unique aspirations in life; and these desires all stem from a place within our souls where we dare to be great. Where there is no fear, no second guessing – You see, from this place in our soul no one can tell us no. No one can tell us we can’t do that because, it’s inside of us, and it’s individual to us. It is born of the deepest part of ourselves.

If you have read much of my writing you know that I stress often that “We are all born with a unique purpose”, we each have a mission that only we can accomplish. Our desires in life are the road signs that point us to our destination, on our own personal “mission map”.

It is our job to bring into focus what our desires are. We must acknowledge these desires. Then once we know what we want, we must create a picture (a vision) in our minds, of exactly what our desires will look like once we possess them. This vision should be so crystal clear that we know with every fiber of our being what it feels like to possess it. We know what it smells like, what it tastes like, and even what it sounds like.

Once we have this picture in mind our job is then to focus. Our focus should be so sharp that nothing can interfere. Have you ever had a day that went so well that you felt you were on top of the world? That nothing – no matter what – Could bring you down. When in this state you are so happy, so excited that all you see is the reason (the thing) that you are excited about. This is where you need to strive to be every single day of your life, with your desire as the reason for your bliss.

It doesn’t matter if you already possess your desire or not because, when you let go and move toward that thing “as if you already possess it”, then you bring that desire into your possession. This is how the world works, not the other way around. It is this understanding that makes the successful – Successful; and it is the lack of this understanding -that causes the mediocre to remain in mediocrity.

When I first got a glimpse of this concept I had a hard time believing it. If you are in the same boat, I challenge you to do as I did and look around you. Look at the successful people, talk to them if you can, and listen (really listen) to what they say. You will find out that these are the facts. These are the truths in life that are hidden from the many. There are out there, they are real, they are just not always accepted and their lack of acceptance will only harm the ones who refuse to accept them.

You may be wondering at this point where our labors come in. Let me tell you that when you form this “crystal clear” vision in your mind of the “thing/s” you really want, the “how” will make itself apparent. At that point you must take action. Our vision will give us the tools, it will give us the direction and by holding that vision in mind the way will appear.

How do you take action? Well let me tell you – If you have created your vision from your true desires, from that place in you in the depths of your soul… Nothing will be able to stop you from taking the action you need to take because, you see what you want. The way to get it has made itself clear and you will walk right around anyone or anything that tries to get in your way.

Notice that I said you will walk “around”; you do not have to step “on” anyone in this process. You know why? Because when you get on the path that leads you to your mission in life everyone else around you will be on their own mission that – is in line with yours. The people who are in your way are only there because they have not yet figured out what their own mission is yet.

We all have our own mission and it is our divine right to achieve it. It is our destiny and nothing and no one can stop you. No one can! We are born onto this earth to achieve it. So, your job is not to worry about whether or not you can do it. That’s already predetermined! Your only job is to create that picture in your mind by listening to your heart and visualizing what you want and- Holding that vision as a constant in your mind.

No matter what happens in life, no matter the “noise” and “confusion” that happens around you, your job is only to do what it is you are here to do. Nothing else is of your concern.

Does that mean that all the troubles in the world are unimportant? No, that’s not what this means. What this means is that all the other troubles in the world that you cannot do anything about anyway are not yours to be concerned about. This is when we are to “Let go and let God!” Take care of what you can take care of, what you are meant to take care of and let everything else go.

If there is a “cause” that your heart goes out to and you can help – Great! Please do. The world will be better for it but, if you cannot do anything about it anyway then, let it go. Worry is futile. It will do no good. In fact, worry can and will hurt you!

I was listening to a recording the other day of a talk given by Guy Finley and in this talk Guy says to “Place your troubles in the light of Greatness!” What an awesome statement that is. When we have a problem we can’t solve, when we are frustrated, agitated or even angered by the actions of other people, we don’t have to solve these problems. At these times all we have to do is “put these problems in the light of greatness”.

The next time you find yourself upset I want you to try something for me. Close your eyes and see yourself doing whatever it is that you desire, then see the problems that are causing you pain and imagine putting them into a box. Now, envision yourself taking that box now wrapped up like a present and setting it down in “the light of greatness.”

“Let go and let God!” Your job is to achieve your desires; everything else is up to him.