When we think about peace, we often imagine a world free from war, conflict, and violence. It’s a noble vision often viewed as something out of reach and outside of our control. But what if I told you that the most important action you can take for peace starts not with governments, movements, or laws—but with you?
That may seem counterintuitive. How can finding personal peace lead to greater peace in the world? Consider this: if your mind is racing in fifty different directions, how can you create calm in your family? If you’re fired up with frustration and anger, can you help your work team feel balanced and connected? And if you’re filled with blame or defensiveness in a relationship, how can you have productive, peaceful communication?
The simple truth is you can’t. To promote peace on any level—whether in your home, workplace, or community—you need to begin with yourself. Inner peace is the foundation that allows us to develop harmony in our relationships and beyond.
When we shift our perspective and look at peace through a personal lens, we begin to see the various levels at play. There’s inner peace (the peace within ourselves), relationship peace (the peace between individuals), group peace (peace within teams or families), community peace, and then larger societal, international, and ecological peace.
But how can you impact global peace if you’re not at peace with yourself? True change begins from within. Starting small – starting with you – is not only practical, but also highly effective.
Creating inner peace is not as difficult as it might seem. It’s achievable and starts by drawing on your personal strengths, on qualities such as patience, kindness, and resilience. Just as you combine ingredients to create your favorite meal, you can blend these strengths to create peace within. This may mean practicing patience in difficult situations, offering kindness when faced with conflict, or using resilience to stay centered during life’s challenges.
When you tap into these strengths you become more grounded, more centered. And from this place of inner peace, you can offer something different – calm in the midst of chaos, empathy in the face of conflict, and understanding where there is misunderstanding.
Inner peace doesn’t just stay with you – it ripples outward. Your calm demeanor will influence your family, friends, and colleagues as it spreads through your home, workplace, and community. People will sense the difference in how you engage, listen, and respond to challenges, inspiring them to seek peace in their own lives.
While global peace can seem overwhelming, the reality is that true peace – peace that makes a lasting difference – begins with you. Your inner peace creates the foundation for peace in your relationships, your community, and beyond. It’s the best step you can take.
Learn more about finding peace by drawing on your personality strengths. Check out this link on the VIA Institute on Character Strengths website https://www.viacharacter.org/ and click “Free Strengths Survey” in the Discover Your Strengths section https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register. Then, if you want help and support to put your character strengths into action contact me at betty@bettyfranklin.com