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5 ways to create more peace every day.

Note: I don’t talk about current events on my blog much. But I felt called to share this one morsel of insight and honesty with you. I hope it lands!

When I was little, I used to lie awake at night and thank God (a.k.a. the Universe) that he chose me for this life; that of all the souls in heaven, I was chosen to be here, right now with these parents, in this house, and with my really cute Australian Shepard dog.

It felt like magic to be alive, and while I didn’t fully understand it back then, my random lot in life was a lucky one.

I had loving parents.
I was always fed good food.
I wore nice clothes.
I lived in a safe neighborhood.
I went to a good school.

That’s a better reality than most people in the world. Yet, to me, it was just normal.

My worries were simple and a little bit trite, consisting mostly of whether or not I would be invited to a party, be popular, or be liked by the boy in my homeroom class.

Never were they about the color of my skin, physical abuse, or hateful remarks from people different than me. And I wasn’t truly aware of how bad it was for other people outside of my little kid bubble.

I haven’t personally experienced an ounce of violence or bigotry because of the color of my skin or my religion. And I don’t know what it’s like to walk through life facing that in varying degrees. Is it weird that I feel guilty about that?

I can try to imagine what that’s like. I can try to remember how I felt the moments where I was excluded, made fun of, or made wrong because I didn’t fit in.

But I suppose I won’t ever really know how it feels. And I find myself wanting to say something, to do something more to stand up to the hate that still exists in the world.

Like many people, I have been completely appalled for a while now about what’s happening in the United States. It’s hard to watch. It’s hard to see. It’s hard to feel all of the emotions that come with it.

It would be easier to settle back into my cozy bubble and just pop in every once in a while to see how things are going. But I can’t. We can’t.

I want to be part of the solution, the healing, and the strength that puts evil behavior and belief systems back into the past where they belong. And I want to do it with love, not more hate and not more violence.

But HOW? How can I help? 

Donate to an organization.
Stand up against moments of discrimination.
Be loving and kind towards everyone.

All of these things are good, but why don’t they feel like enough?

If you’re reading this right now, you might be asking yourself the same questions. I think many people are–especially in the health, wellness, and personal development industries.

Everyone I know who’s an entrepreneur, holistic healer, coach–you name it, has a big heart and feels called to help make things better. And even though there is such a deep desire to become active and to do something that elicits change, it can feel overwhelming and paralyzing all in the same breath. As a result, many of us wind up doing nothing at all and then feel guilty about it.

I want this post to help change that.

Here are 5 things you can do to play an active role in creating a kinder, stronger, and more compassionate world.

  1. Lead with Love in Your Own Life. There’s a saying that says, “Peace begins with me.” In order to create a world that leads with integrity, understanding, and yes, love, we must look into our own lives and see where we are lacking integrity, understanding, and love. Are we constantly judging other people? Are we not fully accepting ourselves? Are we saying hateful things to our loved ones or to ourselves? Are we carrying anger, grudges, or ill-spirited beliefs around in our hearts? We’ve all got to get honest with ourselves because there’s something we each need to let go of or transform, and now is the time to do it. Because as we transform, we become an example for others, an example that inspires people to respond more consciously and with more kindness and respect. Use journaling, meditation, or talking to a life coach or therapist to work through it.
  2. Connect with Strangers. While this may feel uncomfortable at first, it’s incredibly empowering to simply smile or compliment someone you don’t know. You’ll not only lift them up with your kind energy, but you’ll be lifted up your willingness to be nice for no reason. Kindness is contagious, and as we begin to actively spread it, we begin casting a different energy in the environments we enter and on the people with interact with. It may sound simple, but if you consider the impact of one person’s negative comment to you at some point in your life, and the impact it had on your day, you’ll remember that small moments like that really do matter.
  3. Give, Give, Give. Your time, your money, your energy, your work, or your voice—whatever you feel compelled to give as a force of good, do it. Volunteer for or donate to an organization that is founded on social change, equality, or mindfulness. Give away your services for free to people in a less fortunate community who can’t afford it. Offer to do pro bono work for an organization you want to support. Speak up if you see someone being discriminated against. Do whatever feels good to you with the intention of being of service. It’s ok if you start small and build up to something bigger. Every bit helps! (I donated to this organization recently.)
  4. Educate Yourself. If there’s one thing the majority of people don’t make time for, it’s reading the news (it can’t only be me!). Not only that, but also reading a variety of news sources to get a well-rounded perspective on what’s really happening out there. Today, everything is so skewed depending on the political party the network or news source happens to be in bed with. So finding a few on both sides of the spectrum can help you be more informed. This is a toughie I know, but if we replace our usual Instagram scrolling session with reading one or two articles, it’s totally doable!
  5. Do What You Love. You work in the wellness industry is crucial to creating a more awake, conscious, and kind world. Why? Because without a healthy body or a healthy mind, self-awareness is next to impossible. And self-awareness is what allows people to transform from feeling unloved, unworthy, or unhappy to discovering how to make themselves feel loved, worthy, and happy all on their own. The evilest, ego-driven people on the planet are not self-aware. Therefore, your role as a wellness expert is SO IMPORTANT. Now is the time to set aside any fears of not being good enough or ready enough to start, and just begin.

I know that by doing the work to find my own footing here, I will be fully leveraging who I am: my gifts, my voice, and my spirit. And whether the kind of peace we all hope for happens in our lifetime or not, at least I’ll know that I tried.

Now I’d love to hear from you. How are you feeling about all of this? What are you doing to be active? All suggestions are welcome!

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