How to Share Inner Peace

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“Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, Something you do , Something you are, And something you give away.” – John Lennon

There is a benediction that my dad used to say at the end of church services that has stuck with me for all these years.

“May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, be with you now and forever more.”

I can see him in my mind’s eye standing in front of the church with his arms raised over the audience in blessing. He says that line and then he drops his hands, bows his head and walks out of the service. It gives me great peace to recall.

Meditation has been my go-to for practicing finding that peace. When I have it, I write better, parent more thoughtfully, lead with a fuller heart, and find myself swimming in the deeper end of the grace pool for myself and others.

So in this week’s episode of the How To Share podcast, I share a guided meditation by my meditation teacher, Deirdre Wilcox. Here is a short clip of the preamble highlighting some of my favorite quotes about inner peace:

The episode features a backpack guided meditation that resonates with me as a hiker and climber but I think we’ve all carried heavy loads enough to appreciate it.

Takeaways

  • Meditation can help cultivate internal quiet and peace.
  • Spiritual pathways include meditation, community, and acts of service.
  • Inner peace is a valuable endpoint for personal growth.
  • Nature can provide a sense of awe and tranquility.
  • Creativity is a form of spiritual expression.
  • It’s important to identify and release emotional burdens.
  • Guided meditation can facilitate emotional unpacking.
  • Self-love is crucial for personal development.
  • Acknowledging what to let go of can lighten one’s load.
  • Regularly checking in with oneself can promote emotional wellness.

I understand meditation is not for everyone. But if it is your jam, or you just like talking about packing, please give it a listen. Here are some ways you can listen and watch to the full episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

Barbara Nickless on A Voice In The Dark, Online Gaming and The Power of Story – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

In this episode of The Life of Try, host Wynne Leon talks with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless about her new psychological suspense novel, A Voice in the Dark. Their conversation moves from the dark corners of online gaming and internet manipulation to the real-world vulnerabilities of teenagers, families, and people searching for belonging. Barbara shares how deep research, FBI consultants, and her own curiosity shape her fiction, especially as she writes about FBI profiler Helen Belle, criminal humanist Benedict Hoffman, addiction, trauma, and the question of what draws people toward danger.This thoughtful author interview explores how storytelling can help us understand complicated human experiences, including moral injury, PTSD, addiction, grief, law enforcement, cybercrime, and the healing power of writing. Barbara also reflects on teaching writing to military veterans and civilians, researching dangerous places and difficult subjects, and using narrative to “de-other” people we might otherwise misunderstand. Key Takeaways:→A Voice in the Dark explores the dangers young people can face in online communities, especially when vulnerable teens and young adults are targeted by manipulative influencers.→Storytelling can help us “de-other” people by taking us inside their motivations, histories, and struggles in ways that facts and news stories alone often cannot.→Curiosity is at the heart of Barbara Nickless’s writing process. Her research into online gaming, FBI investigations, addiction, trauma, and moral injury helps make her fiction vivid, compassionate, and grounded in real human experience.→Researching modern crime fiction requires balancing accuracy with readability, particularly when writing about cybercrime, AI, online manipulation, and evolving law enforcement tools.→The conversation highlights a core Life of Try theme: trying begins with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to enter unfamiliar worlds in order to understand ourselves and one another more deeply.If you love conversations about books, personal growth, curiosity, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, resilience, and what it means to keep trying, this episode offers a rich and compassionate look at the stories that help us make sense of ourselves and one another.📘 Order A Voice In the Dark: https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Benedict-Hoffman-Helen-Belle-ebook/dp/B0FTGGHSWL/🌐 Show notes and more inspiration: https://wynneleon.com🔔 Subscribe for more: Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.ABOUT MEHi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying.Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🌍 Website: https://wynneleon.com🎥 Watch Next➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive➡️ How to Finally Write That Book You've Been Dreaming About | Writing Motivation
  1. Barbara Nickless on A Voice In The Dark, Online Gaming and The Power of Story
  2. Embracing What Makes You Different | Kym Gordon Moore
  3. Motive + Means = Opportunity: A Life of Try Story
  4. How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss
  5. Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life | Liza Anderson’s Extraordinary Story

Links for the Episode

Deirdre Wilcox’s website

(featured photo from Pexels)

57 thoughts on “How to Share Inner Peace”

  1. your dad carried and shared so much wisdom with him, you are so lucky. and I remember Deirdre, from an earlier podcast and can’t wait to hear this one, she another one who carries wise advice. double luck for you!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. This was a wonderful way to enter into my day at work – and my 1-hour long transit! – so thank you to you both for this soothing meditation. 🥰

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Now I know a bit about how your father sounded, Wynne, in listening to you. Your memory of him speaking of peace must have brought him alive.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. You Dad’s benediction echos the promise of my favorite Author Wynne . . .

    “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I grew up in a Presbyterian church hearing that benediction every Sunday. I’m smiling thinking back to how soothing it was to hear it even if it didn’t mean much to me then. Now how do I practice peace? Creativity, stillness, and learning to let go of that which no longer helps me grow.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You’ve mentioned growing up Presbyterian before so I’m so glad this benediction makes you smile!

      Stillness and letting go – such great, and sometimes hard, practices. As is creativity at times too. Love this comment, Ally!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Wynne in a world full of noise, inner peace is at tines hard to find.
    I will fess up here and say my mind is often “busy”, then frustration builds, which gradually turns to anger.
    I think I am angry at myself for being angry , does that make sense.?
    I should be able to keep on a level playing field!
    Since I live alone, I don’t direct my anger at anyone, but being angry is not my nature.
    I am a lover not a fighter.
    I used to do yoga, now do I nothing to cultivate the zen 🙄 which is not ideal.
    Thank you for this useful informative post! 🙏

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Oh, Maggie, I hear you! Why is it that doing the practices that bring peace are sooo hard? Incredibly tough habits to groove – at least speaking for myself.

      But if I could say, you clearly do the work to express yourself creatively which is an amazing outlet. That’s a tough and helpful practice too!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They are Wynne, so incredibly tough.
        Not like eating McDonslds, that is too easy 🙄😅
        That is very kind of you to say that my friend.
        It is and I would be completely lost without it.
        Enjoy the rest of your day Wynne 🙏

        Like

  8. I love Maggie’s comment – coming to terms with the reality that we can be angry for being angry! All the more reason to take any/all opportunity to slow things down and get quiet. Your invitational meditation is a great place to begin and you know I love any and all wisdom from your dad. xo! 💕

    Liked by 2 people

  11. I really enjoyed this post and was able to listen to the podcast. It was very relaxing and I found myself nodding off. Thank you for the opportunity to relax and center on my way home.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. “May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, be with you now and forever more.”

    Amen🙏🏽

    Thanks for sharing, Wynne. I needed that. Have a wonderful evening.🌸💕

    Liked by 2 people

  14. “Did I offer peace today? Did I offer a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love?” When it’s phrased like that, it seems so basic. If we can strive to make at least one person’s life a little better that day, that’s undoubtedly a worthy goal.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I like John Lennon’s quote about peace, so is love, Wynne. I love to meditate also. The first thing I do in the morning is to take my coffee to sit in the garden to absorb the quietness and enjoy the beauty of nature.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Wynne, I love your points you made in the podcast and the quotes you shared about sharing peace. Truly, with everything going on in the world right now, this is a tremendous gift to be living with and sharing with others. It truly starts within us and can then ripple outwardly to others in a natural and organic way, instead of being something forced. When others around me in my life get to feeling overwhelmed about not feeling able to make any changes in the world, my answer is always to focus on the small things we can change in our own lives, for doing small things is empowering. They then allow us more energy to focus on more things after that.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m not surprised that you also are a Henri Nouwen fan. He has a line from The Inner Voice of Love that has stuck with me in the most powerful way, “Your future depends on how you decide to remember your past.”

      Thanks for tuning in – I’m glad you liked it!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. wow ! I listened to this: profound and positive; did I do this yesterday when it would have made a difference? no, I didn’t; will I remember? perhaps not SO I have bookmarked this so I can easily revisit when the occasion arises —as it will; thanks Wynne 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  22. I love everything about this post Wynne. A wonderful reminder that it is the simple, heartfelt intentions that can make such a difference.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I needed this, Wynne, even though I’m behind on reading. This quote is an on-going task for me:

    “Acknowledging what to let go of can lighten one’s load.” Letting go has never been my strength, so letting go of what I can’t control is paramount in providing peace within myself. I remember hearing similar benedictions like your dad’s during our church-going days. Hearing those words were a good way to begin a new week. I’ve always been a worrier like my mom, and I’m finding that as I get older, anxiety creeps in so cleverly. Everything is good in life, and yet, there’s always something to worry about, let alone, world events, wondering about the future. Then I’m reminded that I can’t worry about what may or may not happen. One day at a time continues to guide me. Thank you! Hugs 💕

    Liked by 2 people

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