From Judgment to Compassion to Peace

I used to have a viscous inner critic, an loud, persistent voice constantly judging and assessing.

Then I discovered it wasn't my voice! It was the voice of parents, teachers and relatives whose fears and judgments I ingested as the truth when I was young. It was the fearful voices of others.

I had a choice: Continue allowing those voices to take up space in a very crowded inner apartment OR practice compassion for them, and the very young me who allowed them in, and invite them to leave.

Guess what I chose? You can too! And Peace was not far behind. Choose compassion so that you may have Peace.

Love,

Darlene

What you feed returns and grows!

A Buddhist monk tells a story of feeding wild animals that wandered into his village. He named them fear, anger, sadness and guilt. When he fed them certainty, righteousness and greed they returned and grew bolder, until one day they threatened his life, demanding more and more. In desperation the monk locked himself in his hut, remaining in solitude for a month until the animals went away.

Be careful what you feed! And know that Peace requires only Peace from you to grow and return.

Love,

Darlene
Ontological Coach

Gratefulness - a path to Peace!

Brother David Steindl-Rast makes this distinction between gratefulness and thankfulness: thankfulness is simply counting blessings, whereas gratefulness is embodied - by giving. Gratefulness occurs when our hearts are opened, moving us to generous action AND it can occur when there seems to be little for which to be grateful.

When we are deeply grateful for very little, when we are generous in the face of scarcity, this is the gift of an open heart. This is gratefulness. A great fullness. And this is a path to Peace.

Practice gratefulness today!

Taking back Mother's Day!

Did you know that Mother's Day was not a holiday invented by Hallmark to sell greeting cards? No, it was originally proposed as a day of Peace honoring women who had lost husbands and sons in the civil war.

This Sunday, May 9 I invite you to celebrate Mother's Day as a day of Peace. Check out www.ThePeaceAlliance.org and sign on to support several bills in congress to promote Peace internationally and in our inner cities.

This mother would appreciate it!

Love,

Darlene
Ontological Coach