How to Get a Peace of Our Mind

How to Get a Peace of Our Mind

It’s been a crazy three months. A poll this week found that 80 percent of people thought that the country was out of control. We have been writing about personal relationships for years, drawing from our direct experience. When the Coronavirus arrived, we couldn’t just carry on blithely as before, so we wrote about various aspects of relating in the year of the virus because it was front and center in everyone’s lives.

We are in the middle of watching the series “Vietnam” by Ken Burns: it’s 1968, the Tet offensive has occurred, there are street protests and four dead in Ohio. There are many echoes in the mass protests occurring today. We can’t ignore those, and yet how can we write our posts without getting political?

By continuing to draw from our personal relationship.

It is, for both of us, a rock in the stream, a place of peace. We see it both as a wonderful grace and something we have created by choice. Before you say “Oh, that’s nice, but I’m single,” we want to say that our ideas apply to all relationships, not just couples.

The first factor is that we each recognize that the other person is different and unique. Of course, we are similar too: we’re the same species, speak the same language; and both like trains, tea and bagels. But we’re different in sociability, reading matter, breakfast choices. We express ourselves differently in our words and actions, even though our core values and meanings match.

This sounds like such an obvious thing. Of course we are all different and unique! And yet, many of us seem to be seeking agreement, as if we want sameness. Just look at the endless debates on Facebook, Reddit or Twitter, and you will see this stretch for agreement in every corner. These are left-over vestiges of our tribal consciousness. They were important behaviors for survival at a certain point, but they should have long been discarded. Difference is not a threat in and of itself. Growth and evolution require change and variety, and an ever-greater ability to adapt is required to understand the benefits of both.

Your relationships can be rocks in the stream, places of peace #relationships #quote Click To TweetIn our case, the next thing is that we’re OK with those differences. They’re what make each of us who we are. They’re not big deals. They’re more a source of admiration, curiosity and inspiration. “Gee, I could never do that.” “Wow, that’s an interesting way to do things.” “I never thought of looking at it that way!”

And here’s the real secret: that’s just fine. We might gain a new way of being or doing from the other’s approach. We can do this with each other because we’re in partnership, not competition. We want the best for each other always, and we both know that is so. We are not looking for replicas of ourselves – we already have ourselves.

We can accept different ways of behaving because we don’t feel the need to control exactly how things are done, and the magic is that in this way, we offer each other complete freedom, and that sense is so liberating. It’s like taking your shoes or bra off after a long day. It’s like the first day of summer vacation.

This is the place of peace that our relationship gives us, and it is our rock in these times, but you don’t have to be in a couples relationship for this. What we have created comes from within as much as from the other person. You can take that attitude and extend it to everyone, to every relationship. Some people will not reciprocate and some will reflect it right back to you. Either way, you will be spreading peace in the world.

There is no way to peace, peace is the way. Thich Nhat Hanh


Photo credit: Sam Amato

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8 Comments on “How to Get a Peace of Our Mind

  1. Cute puny title! I agree with your statements but also want to endorse watching Ken Burns Vietnam. I watched it when it first was released on PBS and my head was turned around by the information that I had previously not a clue about. there is a behind the scenes story to everything….

    • Your comment about the Ken Burns series matches our experience directly. As much as we knew at the time, we really knew so little!
      All of this feels so connected to what is happening today.
      We can make all our relationships safe harbors of peace and love!
      on that note
      with love
      Maude

  2. Posted to blog on FB:
    Jackie Buxton I loved this, thank you.? Great observation, so true about the ‘embracing of differences’. I am happy to say that I do love my relationship with the hubbie and our grown-up children, and feel we all cherish it and work hard to be nice people to be with (!) but of course, all being at home (we’re all working from home over this period) has its pressure cooker moments. The ‘vive la difference’ section was a good reminder to me. So the hubbie sees the future of the world differently to me? That’s ok (I shall just smile sweetly to myself when it does all end up ‘ok’ in the end) – joke(ish) Great blog!

  3. I am not in a partnership but I do have a room-mate. Finding peace in my own heart & vibrating that, comes first……… enjoying our differences,
    supporting the other through their stresses……………
    .learning new ways of coping………….::
    .finding peace by sharing peace.
    Lots to learn in this time!
    I just l o v e hearing your voice, Phil!!!

    • Thanks Catherine. We love hearing that you can take what we write as applying to more than partnerships.
      And thanks for the audio compliment!

  4. Another insightful article..when I first met Aaron I was so scared of being hurt again I was beyond defensive and quite offensive..I worked on me, luckily he was patient and now we are so good in our peaceful loving home

    • Hi Lisa,
      Thank you for sharing so intimately! We are happy that you were able to derive encouragement from our blog, and glad to hear how your relationship grew. There is always a way to find mutual solutions if both are committed to it.
      the very best for you
      Maude

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