Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. – Albert Einstein

force is commonplace

The quote seems pretty obvious, but how much do we use or try to use force in our own lives? Here are some ways, can you think of other ways?

• How we ram stuff/ideas down our children’s throats
• How we get so flustered when people don’t behave as expected. The anger or disappointment is a form of force that affects us directly.
• How we force our own selves to do, like and dislike ideas and actions.
• How we cry and plead with God/Universe/Life that certain things happen as we please, when we refuse to accept certain realities and keep banging our heads against inevitabilities.

understanding is like common sense

Common sense, it is said, is quite uncommon. So is the use of understanding. If we understand ourselves, what gets to us, what lights our fire and what we need to be happy, then the road to peace and equanimity is clear. We then understand what we as puny humans can do, and what we must simply allow to happen. Internal peace follows. Understanding others, is next. Peace around the world can then follow.

Daily Affirmation: Today I AM humbled and I seek understanding.

Recommendation: Zen And the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss