Who Are You At War With?

Today we ask that you look at the things you are at war with.

Most people are at war, even if they are not soldiers on a battlefield.

You are at war with your boss.  You are at war with your spouse.  You are at war with your parent.  You are at war with your sibling.  You are at war with your child.  

You are at war with the politicians.  You are at war with the corporations.

You are at war with your body.  You are at war with your illness.  You are at war with your addiction.  You are at war with God.  You are at war with yourself.

So just look at the ways you are at war right now.

People are always declaring war on things.  There is a “War on Drugs.”  A “War on Cancer.”

Do you really think this is a good idea, declaring war on things?

What happens in a war?  There is usually a lot of violence and death, isn’t there.

Do you really think violence is a good solution to problems?

You may think you are a peaceful person.  But just wait until you are spending time with your family at the holidays.  Then the war begins.

You may think you are a peaceful person, until you read that text or email.  Then right away, you are at war.

So just look at these ways in which suddenly you go marching off to war.

War is not a good solution to problems.

Say that you think you are overweight.  Do you believe any good will come of you going to war with your body over this?  Calling yourself fat, attacking yourself when you eat?  Even if you lose weight from this place — you win a battle, but at terrible cost.  For you have treated yourself with violence.

People get sick when they are at war with themselves.

Wars are exhausting.  Like a nation at war, all your resources are drained by warfare.

So just look at the things you are at war with.

What would happen if you declared peace with these things?

Do you really believe you would lose something, if you ceased your violent thoughts toward these things?

Peace is more productive than war, isn’t it?  Think of all the things a nation can do with its resources, if it isn’t spending all its energy on war and defense.

So it is for individuals.

Try declaring peace, even for one day.  Declare peace with your boss, your spouse, your parents, your children, your family, your ex, the politician, the corporation.  Just in your mind, declare peace with all your enemies today.  Declare peace with your body, with yourself, with God.

You won’t really lose anything.

And you will gain peace, which is the most precious thing of all.