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'Tis the Season
 

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If there is to be peace in the world,
there must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
there must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
there must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,
there must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
there must be peace in the heart.

- Lao-Tse, 5th Century BCE
from Tao Te Ching

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Greetings! Hope you all are well and happy in this holiday season.

Thinking about peace.... the above excerpt from Tao Te Ching, or The Way of Life, is one of my favorites. I love how it gently nudges this sometimes illusive concept of "world peace" back into our hands, showing us that it's OUR responsibility. Peace begins in your heart and in my heart. Once our hearts and our homes are filled with peace, then it can't help but spill over into our neighborhoods, our cities, our nations and our world. 

As the song says, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." (Jill Jackson Miller, 1955.) May there be peace in your heart and peace in your home this holiday season and into the coming year.

Enjoy the rest of the issue!

- Becky

P.S. For an interesting background on Jill's song and how it came to be, listen to this half hour radio segment from Human Media.

P.P.S. Don't forget to download your FREE copy of 101 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress. Find it under Partner Resources.

Creating Peace Within

As we continue to live in a world with conflict, war, and violence, I want to share a slightly different perspective for understanding what we are experiencing. I believe with my whole being that we are on the brink of something truly amazing.  None of us know how peace will manifest itself. The vision I hold is that we are a moment away from creating a world safe for our children, their children, and all generations to follow.

We now have a divine opportunity to find peace within ourselves and bring that peace to others. We have an extraordinary chance to shift our perspective, open up our hearts, and live life to the fullest. I witnessed this as I watched many of my relatives during the dying process. 

As they faced their mortality they taught me a very powerful lesson. None of us know when our last day on earth will be, but for the days we have been blessed with, live them to the fullest. 

With this in mind, revel in the beauty that surrounds you, focus on love, and live every moment to the utmost. To create peace within yourself, let go of the should-do's and have-to's in your life and allow your passion, your authentic self to emerge. What is important now is making time to hold your children, to lie in the arms of your significant other, to be kind, to pray, to tell the people in your life how important they are, and to connect to the beauty of the earth.

To create peace, live life like you never lived it before. Love without end, and carry others to the light through compassion and prayer. Say, "I love you" as often as possible, and forgive those who you hold in grievance. Each moment you are given is truly a gift; fill these precious moments with reverence, awe, and love. For then you will have learned to create peace.

Finally, for those of you who are walking a spiritual path, you know that the soul work you are doing has prepared you perfectly for this precise moment in time. The exquisite transformation you are experiencing is for a higher purpose. Your voice, your actions, and your intentions will inspire and heal so many. May you have the courage to speak your truth, the integrity to live your life fully, the vision of a world of extraordinary possibilities, and may we all know peace on earth.

Debbie Milam is a peace educator, author, and founder of the nonprofit organization The Creating Peace Project.  Her work is has been featured in over 60 media outlets including The Miami Herald, Ladies Home Journal, PBS and WebMD.

For more resources on creating peace, health, and happiness for you and your family visit us online at www.creatingpeaceproject.org. 

I introduced this idea as a Time Out Tip last month, but it is such a powerful tool, I wanted to share another version of it this month. This simple technique helped me get through some stressful situations with surprising calm and grace over the past several months. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I thought it might come in handy for you too.

If you can close your eyes and sit for a few minutes while doing this, great. If not, it works on-the-fly also! The "magic" of this process lies in the deep breathing and in the inward focus.

• Close your eyes, or if this is not possible, place your hand on your heart. Bring your awareness inward and focus on your breathing. 
• Gently inhale through your nose, taking in as much air as you can. Exhale slowly through your mouth, gently pushing all the air out of your lungs.
• As you continue breathing, say to yourself, "I choose peace."
• Continue for as long as you have time.

Getting your day off to a calm start is as important to your mental health as eating a good breakfast is to your physical health. 

If you begin your day in a hurried rush, chances are that's how your day will continue. But if you carve out a few minutes of quiet all to yourself and get centered, there's a good chance your day will go more smoothly too.

Here are some centering, quiet-time ideas:

• Breathing is an always an excellent way center yourself as you focus inward. Try the "Choose Peace" exercise above. 
• Affirmations can also help you get focused. Some examples might be: 
• "I am calm and centered."
• "I go about my day with ease and grace.
• "Everything always works out right for me."
• Write down how you want your day to go, what you want to accomplish, and how you want to feel.
• Read some inspirational or motivational material. A couple of my favorites are Staying on the Path by Wayne Dyer, and Soul Weavings, A Gathering of Women's Prayers, edited by Lyn Klug.
• For an on-line inspirational treat, try one of the WisdomFlash links listed under Partner Resources. 

A WisdomFlash is a modern-day poem. It's the combination of visual beauty, inspiring music and a message of wisdom all put together to create a magical experience in your heart. Each WisdomFlash is presented to you in the most inspirational way from some of the world's most insightful authors. Here are a few of my favorites. Hope you enjoy them!

• More Inner Peace - Click Here
• Teach Your Children - Click Here
• The Journey Click Here

Create a Happy 'Tude is published on the 24th of each month. It's purpose is to inspire and motivate it's readers to keep a happy, healthy, prosperous attitude by providing articles, exercises, tips and resources.

Spiritual Coaching Center provides coaching and support to clients who are serious about living with passion and creating more fulfillment in their lives. If you are ready to stretch beyond your current limits and create a more authentic, happier life for yourself, send us an email. 

New to coaching? Then try a FREE 30-minute Sample Session and see if it's a good fit for you. There's no obligation and you receive the full benefits of a coaching session. Plus, schedule a complementary session before December 31 and receive a free gift. Request a Sample Session.

For information about our programs or for more inspirational resources, please visit our website.

My personal mission is to tell the truth, to live with integrity, to be my real, authentic self, and to inspire others to do the same. If I can help bring a smile to someone's face, offer a different perspective, or inspire just one person to get a move on, then I will have taken one more step toward fulfilling my purpose in life.