Top 10 Things YOU Can Do to Create World Peace

by Lisa Hepner

"What can little ol' me do to create world peace?" many of us have pondered.

When Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see," did he really mean that by each and every one of us being peaceful, world peace would be possible? And if so, how can we be peaceful and demonstrate peace on a daily basis? Below is a "Top 10 List of Things You Can Do to Create World Peace"—little steps that each and every one of us can take to create peace in our immediate world, thereby manifesting peace for the entire world. The concepts are simple yet profound. The effects are individual, then collective. The assurance of world peace lies within each and every individual who shapes and colors his or her inner world with peace and love.

#1 Pray
Prayer is the acknowledgement of good in the universe and a way to affirm that, though we may not see it, we know that there is good and love in every situation. James Twyman said it wonderfully in his book Praying Peace: "Our role is not to bring peace to where it is not, but to reveal peace where it is hidden." It is the same with prayer. Our goal is not to request something, but to know that what we are seeking is already there.

#2 Meditate
The next most common suggestion for peace, after prayer, is meditation. Spiritual teachers suggest that we breathe, be still, or walk in nature. These are all forms of meditation. Meditation is listening to inner guidance, to the "still, small voice within." It requires a quieting of the mind. In a world filled with stress and responsibilities, this is one of the most effective paths to peace, both inner and outer.

#3 Forgive
There is a saying that "not forgiving is like taking a poison and expecting the other person to die." Every person acts in the only way they know how to given the circumstances. Understanding this, and seeing the innocence in everyone, makes it easier to forgive.

#4 Listen
Most tragic situations would not occur had the perpetrator felt like someone was listening to his/her pain. Currently, there are thousands of groups that can help you learn to be a better speaker. But how many groups teach you to be a better listener?

#5 Seek to Understand
Some people call it "putting yourself in another's shoes" or "empathizing." In the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi he says, "Seek not to be understood, but to understand." This is very powerful. Once we understand someone's pain or actions, peaceful resolution is possible.

#6 Smile
How wonderful the planet would be if we would all just smile more. It sounds so simple, yet most people don't do it. If you smile at someone, most of the time they can't help but smile back. We've heard it said before, but a smile is contagious.

#7 Give
It is a law of the universe that what you give comes back to you. How many of us have helped someone in need, only to be helped later by another person? Give kindness, love, and peace to everyone, and kindness, love, and peace will be given to you.

#8 Release Judgment
This is a hard one. To be without judgment is to deem every experience, situation, person, or circumstance as neither good nor bad— that it just is. There is peace in that kind of acceptance.

#9 Speak Gently
Neuro-Linguistic Programming has taught the power of words on our minds. Raising your voice in anger, or to drive home a point, has an effect that is antithetical to peace. Often when we feel we are not being heard, we tend to raise our voices to get our point across. What if we whispered instead?

#10 Play
Many people say that if we could be more playful, like children, then we would be closer to having world peace. Do you remember the feeling, when you were a kid, of wanting everyone just to be happy and have fun? Think of the earth as our playground and all its inhabitants as our playmates. Let's play nice.

These few principles are simple, if not always easy. But if every individual everywhere in the world practiced these 10 things every day, we'd have world peace before you know it.

Reprinted permission of Magical Blend magazine. Visit magicalblend.com.

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