Bringing the Light into a Divided World: Finding Peace in Emotional Turmoil
Learn to cultivate inner serenity that shines outward and inspires change
Peacemaker, show us how to bring Your Light into this divided world. Help us to be peace in the turmoil and teach us how to cultivate serenity so that we may inspire change.
Peace is a word that gets tossed around in ways that sometimes don’t get defined properly, and that doesn’t help us heal the inner mirror, so we reflect our peace into a divided world. It doesn’t seem to matter where you live globally. There is division.
The dictionary gives us a definition of peace as:
As a noun:
1. Freedom from disturbance, tranquility
2. A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended
3. A ceremonial handshake or kiss exchanged during a service in some. Churches — symbolizing Christian love and unity.
As an exclamation:
1. As a friendly greeting
2. As an order to remain silent
As a verb:
To leave, as in peace out.
In other words, there are several ways to find peace in the turmoil, and it can be achieved without going too far outside yourself.
If we look at some common phrases, we see that peace can be used in many different ways, such as:
At peace — free from anxiety or distress. I would connect this to inner peace.
Hold one’s peace — remain silent about something. This can be great wisdom at times when you might disagree with someone, but know it would be wise to keep your mouth shut.
Keep the peace — for the many peacemakers out there, this one is for you. Those who keep the peace do their best to prevent others from disturbing civil order.
Make peace — for the reconcilers, I salute you. You are the person who re-establishes friendly relations in order to have peace.
It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.
— Eleanor Roosevelt
You and I both know there are times when remaining at peace can be challenging. Whether it’s division over politics, religion, economic status, or social values, there are many opposing views, and recent global elections have shown us that friendships and family relationships are deeply affected because one person thinks their point of view is right and doesn’t have the ability to listen.
So, how are you bringing your Light into the divided world while finding peace in the turmoil?
We can all choose to be Light in the darkness. It only takes one person to hold space for love over the discord. The question is: how do you become that person?
When you feel the emotions building — anger, frustration, sadness, and grief — don’t block them out. Sit with them. Become friends with each of your emotions. It is healthier to befriend your emotions, let them speak to you, and you speak to them. What?
Yes.
Here’s an example
Me: Hi, anger. I know you’re rising within me because _______ [fill in the blank] happened. I think it’s wonderful that you know when to rise up because it shows me that I care enough to get angry. What is your purpose this time?
Anger: I hate that this happened, and I want justice!
Me: Ok. I hear you. Justice is important, especially when there are injustices in the world. What is a healthy way to have justice in this situation?
Anger: Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. I’m just angry! I want to make sure that people pay for what they’ve done!
Me: How does that bring justice?
Anger: I just want to be right! I want the world to know that I am angry!
Me: Yup. I’m going to scream for a little bit because I’m at home and feel safe to let you be present in this space with me for a short time, but once I’m done screaming, I’m going to sit in quiet and open the door of my heart, mind, and soul, so you can leave.
Anger: I accept that. Thanks for listening.
This can be used for all the emotions you might feel throughout your life, especially those that can create unhealthy situations.
I know that doing an exercise like this isn’t as easy as it seems in certain situations. Be patient with yourself as you enter into your emotions, walk through, and let them go.
Once the anger has dissipated, I sit quietly, sometimes with a hand over my heart, and return to my compassion and love. I forgive myself (if that is necessary).
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. — Jimi Hendrix
When is the last time you felt an emotion that brought negative thoughts? How did you handle the emotion? Where did you feel it in your body? When we feel an emotion, whether it be positive or negative, we feel it somewhere in our body.
When was the last time you allowed yourself to sit with a difficult emotion instead of reacting to it? How did that experience shape your inner peace?
In what ways can you become a source of peace in your daily interactions, even in the midst of division?
How can you deepen your practice of listening — whether to your own inner voice, emotions, or to others — without needing to be right?
This is a meditation that can be 5, 15, 20, or 30 minutes in length.
Close your eyes and take deep breaths in through your nose, exhaling through your mouth. Use the 4–7–8 rhythm: Breathe in for four counts, hold for seven, and exhale for eight counts. Repeat this four times to complete five cycles.
Visualize peace surrounding you. Maybe it’s a color. Maybe it’s a sense. Allow it just to be. Maybe you sense Jesus sitting next to you. What would you like to say to Jesus or your Inner Voice?
Once you finish saying what you want or need to, sit quietly and listen for a response. If this is an unfamiliar practice for you, give it some time. Try not to be too impatient.
Imagine a Light surrounding you, entering into your heart, mind, and soul, moving through your blood vessels, and releasing more Light and Love through you.
Visualize the Light moving through your veins, expanding through your body with each beat of your heart.
Now, bring whatever emotion you have been feeling into the Light. Visualize it coming out of the darkness as the Light surrounds it, absorbing it and releasing it into the air around you. Watch as it grows fainter and fainter the more the Light absorbs it.
As the darkness dissolves, return to your breathing and feel the Love surrounding you.
When you are ready, open your eyes.
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. — Mahatma Gandhi
Set aside time each day to meditate. You don’t need to begin with lengthy times. I began with 2 minutes and slowly worked up to 20 minutes. Try it this week just as you wake up and/or right before going to bed.
Practice mindful listening in challenging, heated conversations with clear division. Instead of reacting or trying to be right, hold your peace and listen with empathy. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Reflect on their perspective without immediately trying to defend your point of view.
Practical Tip: Before responding, take a deep breath and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this person’s point of view?”
Check in regularly with your emotions, especially when you feel anger, frustration, or sadness emerging and rising within you. Use the meditation practice to sit with those emotions, asking what they need. This allows you to release negative feelings in a healthy way and return to peace.
Practical Tip: Set an alarm or reminder once or twice daily to pause, breathe, and assess your feelings. Name the emotions you’re experiencing and decide how you want to respond.
May peace be a gentle river, flowing through your heart, mind, and soul. May it wash away any turbulence of anger, fear, and division, leaving you with stillness and clarity. May the Light within you shine brightly, casting love into the world, and may you become a vessel of peace for yourself and those around you.
sdg