There are two voices in your mind vying
for your attention. One is the ego's.
One is the Holy Spirit's. Both are patient.
Both are mind-altering. One is loud and very seductive.
We can only listen to one. Choose carefully.
I find it very interesting and valuable to reflect on the idea that I house two voices in my mind. Of course you have them, too. Our access to either voice is always just a decision away. My introduction to the existence of these two voices, the one that is soft and kind and loving and helpful and the one that is abusive and controlling and angry most often, came from my study of A Course in Miracles.
The premise of A Course in Miracles is to help practitioners live more peaceful lives. Its basic tenet is that we are always acting from a place of love, which is the home of the Holy Spirit, or a place of fear, which is the ego's stomping grounds. And recognizing this in ourselves and our fellow travelers makes it easier to express the love that will ease our journey and the journey of others if fear has gripped them.
The Peaceful Voice: Key to a Peaceful Journey
My commitment in life now is to be an example of and a proponent for peace, as often as possible. I allowed the ego too much sway over my actions for too many years. But I don't want the battles anymore, and allowing the ego to rule my thoughts means battles galore. However, it does take vigilance to choose again. It does take vigilance to not fall back into the old habits.
The first step is to want the peaceful journey more than the thrill of the battle. Arguing can create an adrenalin rush. And that's seductive to some. I'd have to say it appealed to me in years gone by. But listening to the softer voice, the one that seeks no adversary, the one who wants a quiet, calm heart and a sense of well-being, even in the midst of someone else's chaos, has captured me at this stage of my life.
I can't say I've always turned a deaf ear to the ego, but I have learned to say, "I need not go there." Listening to the ego has never led me into a place of solace. Listening to the ego has never benefited me or anyone else...
Discovering the Avenue to Inner Peace
Our topic here is the discovery of the avenue to peace. And it's within us every moment. It waits for our attention to it. It calls to us, but very quietly. Peace is soft and kind and comforting. Always. The voice that represents it has to also be soft and kind and comforting. It requires us to listen closely as it whispers to us.
Interestingly, not everyone seeks peace, and that's a fact of life. We recognize those people by their actions, their voices, their incessant attacks on others (certain popular media figures come to mind). And then there are some who would like to experience more peace, but they are afraid of the changes they will need to make in their daily responses to life. This is where we, you and I, can serve as way-showers.
When I want to experience a peaceful heart in the moment, I ask myself some simple questions before responding to a situation or a person:
* Is what I am about to say kind and loving?
* Is what I am thinking at this moment of benefit to the others who are present in this sacred experience?
* Is what I am doing making a contribution to the well-being of the universe at large?
If the answers aren't yes, each time, I need to regroup and listen more closely to the voice of the Holy Spirit within.
Ways to Achieve a More Peaceful Heart
There are a number of other ways to achieve a more peaceful heart, too. Not joining every argument to which we are invited is an obvious one. So is choosing to see every situation and person from a different perspective if an argument or some tension is mounting. All we have to do is ask for a different perspective, and it comes calling.
The two voices present in our minds don't deserve equal attention. The reason vigilance is so necessary though is because the louder voice is also the more insistent. Choosing to hear the quieter voice takes willingness followed by real commitment. The payoff is worth it, but honest effort is necessary.
Some ways to express peace in the world that you inhabit:
* Smile more.
* Walk away from an ugly encounter.
* Say to your adversary, "You might be right."
* Take a deep breath before responding to a tense situation.
* Invite God into every moment.
* Remind yourself that you are simply here to be "truly helpful" to the others sharing your path.
* Surrender to a situation rather than attempting to control the uncontrollable.
* Remember, disagreements do not require resolution.
* Be kind even when others are not kind. They are simply afraid.
Be cognizant of these expressions of peace — both the ones I listed above and your own ideas — and share them with others. That's a sure way to remain committed to them yourself. Monitor your thoughts and change them if they are not loving. These are all responses that reflect attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our minds.
©2012 by Karen Casey, PhD. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Conari Press,
an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. www.redwheelweiser.com.
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About the Author
Karen Casey is a popular speaker at recovery and spirituality conferences throughout the country. She conducts Change Your Mind workshops nationally, based on her bestselling Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow. She is the author of 19 books, including Each Day a New Beginning which has sold more than 2 million copies. Read her blog at www.karencasey.wordpress.com.
