Thinking optimistically and staying peaceful in stressful times takes practice for many people. I suppose some people find optimism comes naturally to them, but we all find at least some situations that try to get us down. When that happens, you have to work harder to keep your thoughts turning to positive outcomes, instead of dwelling on possible negatives.
It takes a bit of self-discipline to recognize negative thinking as it occurs, and firmly counter it with positive thoughts. This skill doesn't come naturally to most, so it takes practice to get good at it. Meditation is a wonderful way to help you develop this capacity to examine thoughts and to deal with them consciously and deliberately, instead of being at the mercy of our negative thoughts and feelings. But even in the most stressful and pessimistic situation, we can choose to apply the energy of our thoughts toward positive outcomes, and help bring them to pass. As Gandhi once said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” If you want peace, you have to be peace.
I'm deeply concerned about current world affairs... but I'm not allowing myself to feel helpless about it. I firmly believe that it is my responsibility, as a citizen of the United States, to apply the brakes to my government when it is about to crash. I cannot, as a member of a democracy, allow my government to continue on the course it is going. And I can't sit back and pretend to be helpless about it. Because in a democracy, the government is me.... it is me that is about to bomb the Iraqi people, and drill for oil in Alaska. The government is BY the people, OF the people, and FOR the people. WE THE PEOPLE, elect a government to represent us. It is clearly my responsibility to speak up and tell ones we elected that we don't approve of how they are representing us.
This is exactly why freedom of speech is the very first right granted to citizens. Our freedom to speak and direct our government lies at the very heart of what makes a democracy so strong. “When the people lead, the leaders must follow.” So I use my voice and protest. I speak up in large ways and small. I speak to my co-workers, my family, my friends, and online to the rest of the world.
I sign petitions. I network and forward information on to others. I stay informed from a wide variety of sources, not just the mass media that often has ulterior motives, good or bad. I interact with my government. I call my Senators' offices in Washington DC, and let them know where I stand on issues. I've sent a bag of rice to the President, with a letter hand-written with a calligraphy pen, pleading for peace, that was signed by me and my children. I have two posters taped to the back window of my car, one saying: "It's your duty to object when your gov't is wrong", and another with a picture of Bush with a cowboy hat saying "War is his answer, Not Mine." http://www.protestposters.org
I also wrote an article on this subject titled "War & Pacifism: America vs. Iraq - 2003" a few weeks ago, and it has gotten tremendous response. I'm expecting this article to appear in the Ostara issue of Elements Magazine, and in the meanwhile, it’s been circulating online.
I try not to waver in my insistence for peace. Peace is possible. War is never inevitable. I sometimes have to work hard to keep peace and optimism in my heart. But I won’t allow my energy to be wasted on despair. I won’t let all of America fold under the weight of fear and helplessness that is consuming it. We need people to stand up and speak out. Firmly, quietly, persistently saying "no. I disagree. No. Not in my name. No. Seek Peace!"
Peace starts within each and every heart. It cannot be imposed from outside, and certainly cannot be found at the point of a bullet. So keep peace and love in your heart as you firmly renounce warfare and death. Don't let the government's anxiety alerts create fear in your heart. Keep peace there instead. Be a working example of peace in all that you do. And from each individual heart, the peace will spread... one person, one heart, at a time.
Namaste.
~Flame RavenHawk
February 15, 2003