Yesterday’s blog was also a clear reminder to myself about the importance of my work for peace.  I sometimes get caught in the drama of making a living and need to remind myself of my higher purpose.  Yes my job includes helping others find peace within and this is purposeful work.  Yet there is great resistance from most of those I work with in my new job.  They are angry, resentful, and often have no experience of what peace of mind or happiness is even about.  Working for peace begins in being patient with even the most troubled of clients.  

Each day while wading through the paper work and unmotivated clients, I need to still set my intention to spread peace, compassion and consciousness in all that I do.  I need to remind myself that even though this work is not what I had intended, there is something about why I am here that will be a gift to me and to those I have the opportunity to serve.  

Fully showing up to what is, that is the task in front of me, then listening to the higher guidance so that I can be shown what to do and how to do it better.  Linking in with my Higher Self is my intention for 2010 and the work place challenges are a perfect opportunity because I frankly need lots of guidance to keep my own peace while inviting others to come along for the journey of self-exploration.  

What further insights and awareness will I gain from being present to what is?  How will my consciousness expand by doing the work of this work personally and professional?  What experiences will lift me up to new levels of self-realization?

Along the way I must feel what I feel and be willing to acknowledge and be respectful of my emotional states.  If I do not then I cannot be at peace within.  So feel what is going on and then set the intentions and live in the now, not the swamp of disappointment and self-judging.    

My peace work is everyday both within and out in the relationships I build.  When I come from my heart and share my awareness even the most resistant can’t help but feel the truth within themselves of the importance of finding their way to peace.

Peace Letter #61

Dear President Obama,

Guide us to find our way to peace so that we can work together for the compassionate well-being of all of us.  Let’s put all of our resources toward helping each other and no resources toward war.  We can do so much more to help other nations if we come from a compassionate heart.   

Kindness is a much more powerful tool to transform others than any weapon.  

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

As you may have noticed I have been writing our President about moving our nation toward peace for over two months now and still we don’t have peace.  I am outraged, just kidding but if I was taking this personally then my ego would certainly be out of control (which would be a sign that I have no peace within).  If the President himself actually has read any of these letters it would be amazing.  He certainly has a difficult job and he has little time to read emails from some guy in Colorado who is obsessed about peace. 

Peace is an obsession of mine and I am proud of it because frankly that is what we all want at some level.  We want peace of mind and peace with others.  Peace is the natural state of those who can find their way into the moment and actually reside there for at least brief periods of time.   Peace comes only to those with open hearts and open minds.  Closed hearts can’t feel peace and closed minds can’t imagine it. 

Peace begins inside and can spread out into the world.  Peace is only possible if we become more conscious human being.  The present paradigm is about war and control so we need to raise our consciousness to the level where peace and compassion are part of the new paradigm

I have a peace t-shirt company as you can see by the bright colored ad here at my blog.  I offer a free guide to inner peace, which you can download here.  I teach my clients how to find their way to inner peace.  I write about peace here often at my blog. I try to be at peace at least part of my day.  When I go to sleep at night I hope to sleep peacefully.   I often go for a walk to find the place of peace inside of me.

Is peace important to you?  Do you think it is possible?  What are you doing to find your own peace?  Can peace be created by making war, trying to control others, or by having the biggest military?  Yes I know there are not nice people out there but do we have to spend billions for weapons systems that would kill us all off hundreds of times over in pursuit of trying to eliminate our fears?

I would love it if you would join me and go to the link below and tell President Obama that war is the old way and we want the kind of real change that would bring about peace. 

We do not need to be in Afgahnistan other than to provide aid and it is time we got out of the war that never should have been in Iraq.  This insanity will happen as long as we the people allow it to. 

In peace we could afford all that we need for healthcare, better education, employment programs, and to work for a healthier, happier humanity. 

Please join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

There is so much written these days and much of it is just opinion but people get outraged over the thoughts of others.  If you ever read comments by people you realize a couple of things.  One is that there are a lot of angry people out there.  Two is that many people need to get a life and purpose that involves doing more than blaming the government and others for the problems of this nation.  Three is that the time has come for us all to put aside our differences and instead go in search of mutual solutions. 
 
The barriers of anger, blaming and differing view points are all about the human ego which has a major need to: be in control, avoid responsibility, and be righteous to the point of blind faith in one's own thoughts.  The real revolution for change in this country needs to happen inside as the ego-based structures around us are already destroying themselves on their own (i.e., financial structures collapsing, war making breaking our government, environmental degradation and corporate greed,).  See this article about the need for a revolution at a political/governmental level. 
 
The revolution starts with the realization that we too often believe our own thoughts, which means the ego-mind is in charge and it is run by fear, driven by the need to be in control, and always greedy in its self-centered ways.  The owning of our emotional states is another challenge we need to take up because we too often blame others and circumstances for how we feel.   We feel what we feel because of our thoughts in response to circumstances. 

A healthy human revolution will take place when we become mindful of our thoughts and take responsibility for our feelings and behaviors.  A deepening of our connection to our higher nature is the best path to the fullest realization of our potential to resolve the human issues that are for now getting in the way of real progress.  
 
Being in the world in a way that serves everyone is to be awake, mindful, compassionate, with equanimity and in search of mutually beneficial solutions.  Let’s make this a journey of conscious evolution/revolution where all humanity rises up to care for each other and the planet.  Would you join me on this journey? 

I have created a group over on Facebook called Progressive Hearts and Minds.  It is in the very early stages and I am open to the wisdom of all who join in. 





Peace Letter #60

Dear President Obama,

You could join us all who want to consciously evolve this nation past all the differences of ego called points of view and the need to be in control.  Bring together the best mind, hearts and souls and together we can find some common ground.

Peace is the way, compassion is the path, spirit is the guiding force within each of us. 

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact


It seems we, our nation, and very possibly the world are stuck between the ways of the past and the need for new and more evolved ideas.  Many love the past and seem to only value the way things were.  Others recognize that neither the past nor our best ideas now seem to be working.  It seems time for a higher level of consciousness to arise in all of us so we can leave the narrow views and the old ways behind for the benefit of all of us.

The following is a list of old ideas and beliefs that seem in need of updating:

•    That war is a viable way to deal with problems between nations and radical groups
•    That religious beliefs in controlling others is the name of God has nothing to do with God but is all about male ego   
•    That men have the right to dominate women
•    That the game of politics is working when in fact it is clearly badly damaged and in need of drastically revisions
•    That buying influence is hurting everyone but the few that can afford to.
•    That healthcare for profit is flawed at many levels especially for those who may loose their homes, financial future and everything else if they get very sick
•    That we should trust people who spread hate and judgment towards others
•    That those who blame and complain are respected even if they offer no credible solutions
•    That the status quo is ok and we shouldn’t mess with it
•    That unregulated commerce is a good idea after the mess left by the last president
•    That privatizing government function is a good idea
•    That test scores are the best indicator of the quality of education
•    That a huge defense budget is necessary in modern time
•    That to live in fear of a few small band of radicals is ok and shapes so much of our national policy
•    That those in the military are heroes and that glorifying war makes it ok
•    That less taxation is better than balancing a budget
•    That churches dominated by elderly white males should be trusted
•    That government is bad when there is not other humane and compassionate alternative  
•    That corporations have rights like individual citizens
•    That “might makes it right”, the big stick foreign policy is so in need of new ideas
•    That the Bible is anything more than an old text written by men who were definitely not God
•    That the talking heads of political opinion have anything worth listening to
•    That following others or ideas with blind faith is a good idea
•    That anger is some kind of higher value than peace
•    That the human ego is an acceptable driving force for many of our social, financial, governmental, and corporate institutions

Yes there is so much to question.  No the past is not better nor are the old and narrow ideas.  It is time for us all to step out of our comfort zones of ego-mind and go in search of higher knowing. 

Peace Letter #59

Dear President Obama,

Isn’t it time we grow up and move beyond war?  Isn’t it time we no longer let fear dominate our policies?  Isn’t it time to use government to bring about real changes for the best of all?

It seems the nation is in a battle between old ways and their influence money and new ways, which we must explore to evolve democracy.  You have been elected to be an agent for change and we need you to do so.  What makes most sense is boldness from the start.

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

As I read through my post from yesterday I have a couple of responses.  The first is that because of all the shifting going on in my work and with this bad cold, I have been struggling with staying present.  It is not easy to stay present when things are up in the air, when the unknown is more forefront than the familiar.  When health is compromised, it become harder to think clearly and emotions seem to destabilize. 

This is a time of upset for many.  The world seems to be literally shaking as we experience our own internal tremors.  There is anger rising and more intolerance of differing ideas.  That says to me the rationalizing ego-mind is running the show and fear is the predominate thought.   We cannot come to mutually beneficial solutions if our hearts are run over by the mind in Hummer mode. 

How do we take back the mind from hate, intolerance, impatience, judgment, anger and fear?  The answer is really very simple but not so easy.  There is no dominant mind in the now.  In the now there is what is, free of the control of the mind, there is impartiality, observation, enjoyment, appreciating, compassion, hope, and freedom to just be. 

 

Take a few minutes each day to hang out in the now and you can do that by stepping back from all the doing and just sit or walk quietly and appreciate what is in you and around you.  The deepening breath is a helpful pathway.  Nature is a natural way to be present: watch the wind blow through the trees, hear the birds singing, listen to a stream or the ocean, hear the laughter of children, appreciate the beauty of a wonderful song, enjoy the company of those around you, and walk with peace in your heart.

Have an enjoyable and play filled weekend. 

 


Peace Letter #58

Dear President Obama,

Yes you are so right to keep on working away and pushing through different issue.  Keep the positive forces moving forward and soon the momentum despite the resistance will shift to the favor of what is best for all of us. 

Hear the call to peace, to better resources for health for everyone, to more compassion for those in need, to protect our planet for future generations, and for good work for good pay for all, so once again we become a land of opportunity for everyone in this nation.
  
Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact