LESSON 8
PEd – PEACE EDUCATION
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
Znac, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
GE-PEd – PEACE EDUCATION
LESSON 8: CULTIVATING INNER PEACE
Learning Outcomes:
Identify certain ways in cultivating inner peace.
Explain the appropriate behavior in Cultivating Inner Peace
“Cultivating inner peace is a gift to yourself and those around you. It is from this grounded space that
you can evolve into your best self and create your best life. And, it feels so good.”
Content
Inner peace is defined as the state of physical and spiritual calm despite many stressors. Finding your
peace of mind means attaining happiness, contentment, and bliss no matter how difficult things get in
your life. Finding happiness and inner peace does not depend on a problem-free life or the absence of
conflict because we all go through challenges in our lives.
The result of quiet mind. An inner quietness that allows you to see yourself and the world around
you as it is, without any aggression, frustration or stress. You can fell content simply just to be. You do not
need to be rich, successful, pretty, or popular to feel this inner calm, all you need is to be able to take
control of your mind and stop the constant thoughts that repeat themselves over and over again.
A. Inner and Outer Transformations
Patricia Mische (2000) explains that the transformation that we should seek should not
only be the transformation of our society, but also the transformation of our spirit because the
inner transformation inspires the outer work. She concludes that the “inner and outer
transformations are inseparable parts of one whole”. This perspective is repeated many times
over in both the secular and faith-based peace literature. There is a growing consensus that,
indeed, there is an intimate connection between our inner state and what we do in our outer
spheres. This consistency is the foundation of being a fully integrated person.
1. What Inner Peace Entails
Having inner peace is characterized by self-respect and a recognition of one’s own dignity
as a human being. This enables a person to face life’s challenges with an inner equilibrium,
because despite adversities she/ he is convinced of his or her intrinsic worth and purpose. Hence,
she/he does not easily succumb to addictions, psychological illnesses and other forms of inner
disharmony, but rather she/he meets challenges with a sense of hope and confidence in his/her
own capacities.
Personal peace also suggests that we respond to negative actions directed to us in
positive ways. For example, when we forgive rather than take revenge, and continue to do good
to others, despite the hurts that the others may have inflicted on us, then we can feel a better
sense of wellness. Jing Lin (2006) says that forgiveness is a key to achieving inner peace.
Forgiveness frees our hearts and puts a stop to the exchange of negative energies and
intentions. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen Buddhist master, reminds us that “obsessing about our
wounds” keeps many of us from experiencing the fullness of the present (Kessler, 2001)
Thich Nhat Hanh holds that a key to world peace is the
practice of “being peace”. He says that often there is a vacuum
inside us and we try to fill it by being busy with activities, even
by overworking. However, this does not give us a sense of well-
being and security. He believes that within each of us are seeds
of both peace and violence. Which of these seeds will grow
depends on which seed we will nurture. He says that if we
cultivate the seeds of compassion, we nourish peace within us
and around us. However, he points out that many influences of
contemporary society nurture instead the seeds of violence. As
a counter balance he teaches techniques for cultivating inner
tranquility such as breathing exercises, meditation, and mindful or conscious living. Furthermore,
he advocates compassionate, calm and deep listening, which, he says, can restore harmony.
Finally, he says, “What is most important is that we first take care of the seeds of negativity in
ourselves… If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in
our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace… Being peace is the basis of doing
peace, making peace” (Beller and Chase, 2008).
The Dalai Lama (2001), leader of the Tibetan people, and
Nobel Peace Prize Awardee in 1989 explains that a calm and
wholesome state of mind has beneficial effects on our health and
physical well-being. Conversely, feelings of fear and anger can be
destructive to our health.
Hence we have to learn to reduce the influence of negative
emotions so we can have a happier and more satisfying life. These
ideas from a spiritual leader are affirmed by medical and health
experts today. In addition, the Dalai Lama (cited in Hunt, 2004) also
says that when people are caught up with the idea of acquiring more
and being rich, without making room for anything else in their lives, it can result into losing the
“dream of happiness”. Hence, one may appear to be leading a successful and comfortable life but
may still be tormented by anxiety, discontent and uncertainty. The Dalai Lama encourages people
to be something more than their titles, incomes and possessions. He asks people to recognize that
it is not their social position or looks that are important but rather what they do to promote lasting
happiness in their heart and in their society. Finally, he says peace is not just the absence of
violence but involves satisfaction, happiness and tranquility; it is an expression of compassion and
caring, a life without fear.
It is also good to remember that the major world religions have all taught the golden rule,
whose essential message is that we do to others what we want them to do to us. This spiritual
message, if taken to heart, is a source of peaceable relationships which, in turn, brings personal
peace. This indicates to us that indeed there is a link between social and personal peace. Similarly,
as people pursue the goal of personal peace, this will contribute to a more peaceful community.
Thus, cultivating inner peace not only means looking inwards and definitely not in a self-
centered way. It means strengthening one’s inner resources of faith, love and hope, one’s
personal vision and capacities so that she/he can use these in building outer peace. Inner peace
and outer peace feed each other. We cannot say we have inner peace while ignoring violent
realities all around us; a violent outer sphere will certainly affect our inner state. This fact
convinces us that it is best to work for inner and outer peace simultaneously. As we cultivate inner
peace, we also need to nurture our aspirations and efforts to contribute to societal peace.
HOW TO FIND INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS?
1. Be patient
▪ Remember that this develop over time. Fluctuation
occur throughout the day.
2. Sooth and replenish your spirit/meditate
▪ Quiet your mind
▪ Sit quietly to free and empty your mind of thought.
▪ Rest frequently.
▪ Find a comfortable spot to unwind, relax or take a nap
▪ Learn to meditate
▪ Free yourself of stress and worries.
3. Keep everything simple
▪ Try not to do everything at once. There’s no rush to do
anything.
4. Experience the current moment
▪ Think only of what is at hand. Think less about the past
or future. Today is different from the past.
5. Try not to prejudge
▪ Be open to experience. Let go of bias and expectation.
6. Be happy
▪ Take time to do the things that make you happy. Satisfy
your desire.
7. Have a pride
▪ You are who you are. Take pride in your individuality.
8. Take responsibility
▪ Rectify your errors when possible. Relieve your mind.
9. Be pleasant
▪ Be kind and courteous. It warms your heart as well.
10. See beauty
▪ See the beauty in everyone and everything.
11. Don’t let your past mistakes define you
▪ We all have mistakes in the past we’re not proud of, but
dwelling on your past mistakes will take the best of you.
Don’t let your past mistakes define you, and don’t let those
memories stop you from growing into a better individual.
▪ To find your peace and happiness, let go of your regrets.
Remember that these mistakes made you a better person.
You’re going to commit mistakes in the future anyway, so
learn to pick yourself up and move on.
12. Love yourself
▪ Self-care is important to finding peace and happiness.
How can you be truly happy in life if you cannot love
yourself? Loving yourself means looking after your
physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. These
include eating healthy, exercising regularly, and looking
after your overall well-being.
▪ When you have a healthy relationship with yourself and
practice self-care, you also project this positive energy toward others. Imagine how happy and
peaceful your life can be when you feel good about yourself. Healthy self-love also results in good
relationships with the people around you.
13. Practice acceptance and contentment
▪ In finding peace and happiness, acceptance and
contentment are key. Accept that you will have problems in life
and learn how to deal with them.
▪ Being contented means having emotional, physical, or
even financial contentment. The desire for material things and
financial wealth does not excite an individual with inner peace.
Why Is It Important to Find Inner Peace in Our Life?
Finding your peace of mind results in fewer worries, anxieties, stressors, and fears. Inner
peace is linked to achieving self-actualization. Below are the benefits of finding that state of balance in
your life:
▪ Better everyday function in handling your day-to-day affairs
▪ Increased energy levels and improved emotional management
▪ Less drama, fewer worries, less stress, and positive thoughts
▪ A kind and compassionate treatment of other people
▪ Not being easily affected by society’s negative comments
▪ The ability to learn how to deal with difficult emotions
▪ The ability to have a clear judgment when dealing with stressful challenges
▪ Better sleep quality
ACTIVITY 8: “MIND CLUTTER”
NAME: _______________________________________ HPS: 20pts. SCORE: ______
COURSE/ YEAR/BLOCK: ______________________ DATE: _________
I.
II. MIND CLUTTER: If you want your mind to be peaceful and present in the moment, you need
to become aware of the chatter and learn to clear away all of the mental clutter. Like cleaning
out a closet, you cannot do this in the dark. So, to shine some light on what is going on in your
mind, write down all your thoughts, concerns, worries, hopes, and expectations in the diagram
of the head below. Fit as many as you can. This is not about judging your thoughts as good or
bad; it is just about becoming aware of them, so that you can change them if you would like
to.
III. PUTTING WORRIES INTO PERSPECTIVE: It is normal to worry, but a lot of the time
we end up worrying about things that have already happened will never happen, or will not be
as “bad” as we think they will be. Our minds stir up the worries, and then literally start
spiraling out of control, keeping us from living our lives fully.
For this exercise, make a list of things you are worried might happen in the coming week/month
on the space provided below. Jot down the best and worst-case scenarios. (20 points)
A month from now, go back to this list and review it. Chances are you will discover that
seldom, if ever, do things turn out the way you expect. Doing this exercise helps us to see just
how much time and energy we waste worrying about things that never materialize. It saps our
energy and strength, leaving us tired and drained!
IV. REFLECTION: Make a 3-paragraph reflection about cultivating inner peace. (10 points)
