Day 22: Nourishing Food

I know this seems like kind of a silly topic for a series about peace, but I think it's relevant. When we nourish our bodies with healthy, nutritious food, our bodies and minds feel amazing and full of vitality, allowing us to experience more inner peace as a result.

Food is always a debatable subject and society is continually changing their opinion about what is healthy based on new discoveries and findings.

I find comfort, however, in the fact that the Lord has already given us the perfect plan for health found in the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This "Word of Wisdom" has stood the test of time and offers for me a perfect blueprint.

I encourage you to read it (if you have never read it before) and study it (even if you have). I have studied it in detail over the past several years as I've confronted different health challenges. And I have found that the more closely I align my diet with the Word of Wisdom, the greater my health, the clearer my mind and emotions, and the more energy I have.

This has been the healthiest year our family has ever had, and I can't wait to see the blessings that flow from further living the Lord's law of health.

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 21: Best Day of Your Life

We have a favorite song in our family as of late. It's called "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors. We sing it often and use it as a soundtrack when we do a quick pick-up of the house. The tune is catchy and the lyrics are fun. But I think what I love best about it is the epiphany that came to me one day as it played on the radio.

I was on my way to the grocery store on some ordinary day when it played. I remember singing along and thinking,

"This is going to be the best day of my life?! But today is pretty plain--nothing exciting happening."

And then it occurred to me that it doesn't matter. Every day has the potential to be the "best day of my life." And ever since then I wake each morning with a smile on my face, trusting and knowing that this is going to be the best day of my life.

Because every day can be the best day.

I can't tell you how much this has changed my paradigm and shifted my world to the positive. To maintain this outlook is really quite liberating and allows miracles, coincidences, celebrations, and good things to unfold for me every day.

Could this day be the best day of your life? What if you chose to adopt this perspective too? What amazing wonders would come to pass for you today? And every day? Try it for yourself.

This could really be the best day of your life...

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 20: Journaling Peace

I have found through personal experience that one of the best ways to peace is through journaling.

The benefits of journaling are many. A personal journal is a medium to process our feelings and thoughts as we write them on paper. The blank page is like a welcoming friend--inviting us to spill the contents of our hearts. The memories recorded allow us to remember and relive them again and again in the dark or trying times of our lives. And perhaps most importantly, our journals serve as a recorded legacy for our posterity--declaring that we lived and loved, struggled and overcame, and drop by drop acquired the wisdom of a lifetime.

Throughout the years I have more or less been a regular journal-keeper. I have entries dated back to when I was just 4 years old and volumes upon volumes of assorted books piled lovingly in my bottom dresser drawer. Even though I seldom write in a physical journal these days I have kept my family's history on a blog since 2008.

Whenever I start to feel out of sorts, cross, overwhelmed, or frazzled, I know that updating my journal is long overdue. It takes a little effort and self-motivation, but the rewards are so worthwhile. The instant I begin writing, I feel more balanced, calm, and centered. Somehow everything in my life gets sorted on the page. I guess it's just the miracle of journaling.

Do you have a regular journal practice? How often does it occur? What time of day is best for you to write? Do you experience peaceful benefits from recording? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Maybe today you can take a few quiet moments to write in your journal. It doesn't have to be long or lengthy--just a few short sentences. Then notice the peace that results.

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 19: The Stained Glass Window

Gratitude. What comes to mind? I think of Thanksgiving, making lists, having "an attitude of gratitude," searching, joy, finding the silver lining...

What comes to your mind when you think of gratitude?

How do you practice gratitude? {Because I do believe that gratitude is a practice and takes practice}.

When I was in grade school I only really thought about being thankful at Thanksgiving time, when my teacher would give us a list of the alphabet and our goal was to write something that started with each letter for which we were grateful.

A few years down the road, when I was 13 or 14 I decided to dedicate a whole journal to gratitude. Each day for months I wrote about one thing for which I was thankful.

A few more years passed and I decided to dedicate a personal prayer each week to only thank the Lord for my blessings. This practice was humbling and purifying.

Several more years passed and after reading One Thousand Gifts, I took the challenge to list 1000 things for which I was thankful. It took me months and culminated when my daughter was born. She was my #1000. This challenge resulted in my year's theme of eucharisteo.

A practice I enjoy now is to mindfully notice everything around me and give thanks in my heart or in a short, silent prayer. This has been further refining for me.

However we choose to practice gratitude, the result is the same. Not only do we increase our happiness levels and invite inner peace, we are presented with more and more experiences for which to be grateful. This has been such a surprising effect of being grateful. It's a positive cycle and as you feel and express gratitude, and live with thanksgiving in your heart, you become a powerful magnet of good and gratifying experiences. And while we may still have days of challenge, for the most part our days can be overlaid with a warm, golden glow.

This overlay reminds me of a beautiful Sunday morning in Autumn last year. My family was sick, so I went to church by myself. I sat in Sacrament meeting a few benches behind where we usually sat. As the meeting started, I noticed a warmth and a glow I had never felt before. I looked up and to my left and saw that I was sitting below a beautiful stained glass window. The sun was in the perfect position to be shining through the glass, casting a warm glow on my face. It was a tender mercy from the Lord that I was grateful to experience. I made a goal to have my family sit there more often so I could feel the glow again.

We too can sit by the window of gratitude. Our experiences stay the same, just as the sun is always shining. But the medium of the gratitude stained glass window filters our experiences, making them glow and shine upon us...

Will you take the challenge? Will you commit to living just one day by the window of thanksgiving? What do you notice when you do this? Do you attract more and more goodness and abundance into your life by so doing? Do you feel a glowing warmth even in the midst of your daily experience because of the stained glass gratitude filter? I would love to hear your experience...

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 18: Peace in the Present

Today, in all you do, in all the places you go, in all the wonder you experience, stay present. Resist the urge to project yourself into the future or fall into the past. It's so easy to become victim to living in the past or the future. But these spaces are not reality--they do not exist except in our minds, and when we dwell there, we miss the opportunity of relishing the moment for what it is.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that we never plan for the future or reminisce on the past. These are worthwhile endeavors and can reward us with great dividends. But when we "live" in the past by reliving bad memories or negative situations we give away our power to truly enjoy the present moment. And when we "live" in the future with incessant worry and fear for what will come (most of which never comes to fruition), we also give away our power of peace in the present moment.

Two years ago, my theme for the year was "Moments." For a whole year I focused on enjoying each and every moment and I tried with all my might to see the beauty in each moment. When I decided on this theme in January of 2012, I had no idea how much I would need this theme. My daughter had recently been born, and I found myself in the throes of postpartum depression by March. It was a very discouraging and dark time for me--but searching for the jewel in each moment sustained me. Eventually my real self returned, and by July I didn't have to search as hard. The moments seemed ripe with wonder.

I encourage you to adopt the same practice. Look for the good. Smile when you see it.

Notice the little sounds of children's voices.

Hear the sounds of the autumn leaves rustling in the trees.

Look up and notice the colors of the sky or the moving of the clouds.

Smell the aromas of the fresh outdoor air and revel in it for just a minute.

See the glow of the rising sun filtering through your windows.

Feel the textures beneath your fingers.

Taste and savor each morsel of food.

Breathe in all the wonder of each present moment and peace will be yours to treasure forever.

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 17: Temple Peace

There's nothing that compares to the overwhelming peace of the temple for it is the Lord's house. This is the place where heaven touches earth. This is the place where peace wraps around and encompasses me. We are so blessed each time we enter those doors.

 I think that's why there is great opposition whenever we try to attend. We had planned to go to the temple for weeks and had our reservation set for yesterday. My parents were planning on coming over to babysit, but my mom got sick a few days before and so did my daughter. We decided to just reschedule for a more opportune time, but Wednesday night brought challenges that left me looking out over the city lights from my living room picture window. I decided maybe this could be my new "star chat window."

As I talked to my Father in heaven while gazing at the lights below, I saw the tiny glimmer of the temple 20 miles away against the backdrop of the mountains and knew we needed to be there the following evening. It was a strong impression and I knew the Lord would bless us if we sacrificed.

When yesterday dawned, I was grateful to see my daughter had improved. Though not 100%, her fever was gone and she was playing as usual. After half a dozen phone calls, I finally found a babysitter. The rest of the day was stressful and busy trying to get the house clean. By the time 4:00 rolled around, I was exhausted and a little short on patience. I was frantically trying to tie up the last few things when my oldest son came into my room.

As I quickly combed my daughter's hair he said, "Mom? It's a good thing you're going to the temple. You'll come back much nicer."

I grimaced. "Am I not being very nice?"

"Well, yes. You're always nice, but you won't be as frustrated," he diplomatically clarified.

I smiled and knew he was right.

The House of the Lord elevates our views, gives us a much-needed rest, offers respite and from the world, slows time, enlightens our minds, strengthens our resolve, and truly fills us with peace.

When I returned home several hours later I asked my son if I was "nice" again. He said, "Yes! You're not frustrated any more!"

I am grateful for the ultimate peace-filler, the House of the Lord, the temple of God.

To learn more about temples and why we build them, click here.

31 Days to Peace Index

Day 16: Inner Peace during Unrest

Trials, challenges, heartaches--these are all part of our lives. There is no escaping the opposition that confronts us while on this mortal journey, but at the same time, during these hard times, we do not have to give our power away.

I used to be so scared of the "next trial" waiting for me around the corner. Every time life was going blissfully, I was anxious that life would throw an unexpected curve ball at me. So I lived in this constant fear, and when trials did come along, I responded so negatively. Everything felt like a crisis. Subsequently, it took me far too long to see the silver lining and pass through the challenge a better person.

Recently I have been polishing my inner peace (hence why I decided to write this series and share my experience). Inner peace reminds me of the light in a lighthouse. It shines brightly or dimly--depending on how clean we keep the windows through which it shines. I think my problem was foggy, dirty windows.

The answer? Clean the windows.

Layer after layer of grime is removed when we start realizing our negative, limiting beliefs are not serving us. We need to replace them with truth.

What negative thoughts instantly pop into your head when a trial arises?

Woe is me.
Why is life so hard? This is too hard.
Why does everything bad happen to me?
How is it that no one else has problems?
Why does everybody but me get all the lucky breaks?
I can't handle one more thing.
I can't do this.
My life is miserable.
What's the use? What's the point?
I feel like giving up.

All of these beliefs stick like grime to our windows and impede our light of faith and peace from shining through. So every time you hear a negative voice inside your head, replace it with one of these:

I have faith.
I accept this challenge with grace and ease.
Life is good and beautiful.
I have confidence.
I can do this. We (The Lord and I) can do this.
Challenges are given to me as an opportunity to learn.
I will grow from this.
I may not have the answer to this problem and that's okay. The answer will come in the perfect time.
The Lord is with me. I am never alone.
I am loved no matter what.
I am strong. I am capable and there is nothing that life hands to me that I do not have the inner resources to rise above.
This too shall pass.
I will triumph!

Notice the difference in your reaction to the second set of beliefs versus the first. When you say to yourself one of the positive, empowering beliefs, it's like taking a cleaning cloth to your lighthouse windows and clearing the film that has collected over time. Sometimes saying one of the positive beliefs feels almost like a lie when you first start saying it, because deep down inside, you don't know if you really believe it. But over time, with practice, the smudges will disappear, and the empowering beliefs that once felt awkward will become rooted deep inside your heart.

Next time a challenge arises, take a deep breath and pause. Imagine your Heavenly Father in all His glory smiling upon you and showering down the light of His peace. Accept it. Embrace it. Let it feel your soul with peace. Then confront this challenge knowing, believing that everything will be okay. And trusting that when you look back on this time, you will see the growth, the love, the compassion, the strength, and the perspective you have gained through this experience. You may not be able to be completely happy in the midst of trying times, but you can rely on the inner peace glowing deep inside of you to see you through. It will sustain you with a radiance of calm.

31 Days to Peace Index