inner peace – Surprised By Joy

“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:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Inner Peace with Deirdre Wilcox
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Compassionate Stories that Inspire and Connect – How To Share

In this episode of How to Share, host Wynne Leon interviews social psychologist and writer Anne Beall about her book, The Compassionate Writer. They discuss the importance of compassion in writing, exploring the four pillars: compassion for ourselves, for others, for the reader, and throughout the writing process.Anne shares her journey from academia to founding a literary journal, and how her unique perspective shapes her writing. The conversation also delves into the psychological aspects of storytelling, practical exercises for writers, and the reframing of fairy tales to uncover deeper meanings.TakeawaysCompassion is essential for effective storytelling.Understanding our own narratives requires empathy.Writers should be gentle with themselves during the process.Compassion for the reader enhances engagement.Psychological biases affect how we perceive our writing.Different learning styles require varied teaching methods.Visualizations can aid in the writing process.Fairy tales often reflect societal values and biases.Seeing stories from multiple perspectives enriches writing.The tone of writing can create a more relatable experience.Links for this episode:⁠How to Share home⁠The Compassionate Writer on ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠, and ⁠Amazon⁠ ⁠Anne Beall's website⁠⁠Anne Beall on Substack⁠⁠Chicago Story Press Literary Journal⁠From the host:Wynne's book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠

Links for the Episode

Deirdre Wilcox’s website

(featured photo from Pexels)

Tag: inner peace

How Not To Be Mean