Parvati Magazine, MAPS, Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary, Inner Peace

Transform Your Decision-Making by Tuning In To Your Deep Inner Stillness

Each day brings with it a range of stresses, as we attempt to keep up with our busy lives and our fast-paced world. In my case, I am asked on a daily basis as the CEO of an international charity to make hundreds of decisions. Some of them are relatively light, while others carry significant weight. Each, however, requires that I make them from a place of being in harmony within the whole. Only when I co-create with nature, that is, live in a respectful partnership with a much greater ecosystem than my own limited self, will decision-making arise from a place of balance with the universe and lead to compassionate action.

In each moment, we are called to harmonize two seemingly different rhythms: that of our human desire, and that of the natural world. In the purest sense, they are one and the same. We experience their synchronicity when we choose to let go of the idea that we are separate and choose instead to live in partnership with the natural world of which we are an integral part. As physical, sentient, spiritual beings, we are inescapably interconnected with nature and the universe of which it is a part. We are woven into the fabric of life itself. It is impossible for us to make any decision—no matter how big or small—that does not affect the whole.

But we tend to live in dissonance with this natural harmony, fighting the threads of life that weave through our very essence. When we see problems, we feel we must fix them—whether they are emotional issues, a conflict at work, or challenges in our budget. However, this desire to conquer leads to more problems, because lasting solutions, ones that provide true healing, will only arise from a place of feeling connected.

When we act from the belief that we must conquer our inner or outer world, we inevitably create a ripple of suffering in the web of life. This is a knee-jerk reaction based in fear that comes from a fundamental belief that we are not loved or supported. Our disconnected thoughts, feelings and actions are fuel to the fire of our burning world.

If I were to say, “You must force yourself to feel at peace,” you would immediately know that was not possible. That is because you know that peace is a state of calm that arises from feeling connected. When we feel a part of, we feel a love, fulfillment and vitality that are not dependent on circumstance. Peace cannot be forced. It is like a flower that blooms with patience, kindness and nurturing over time. To find inner peace, we must first understand that we are each a part of the compassionate and loving fabric of life.

This becomes clear when we take a moment of pause, out of our daily habits. We tend to run forward out of the moment, push toward what we think we need and attempt to control what we believe we want. But in so doing, we treat ourselves and our environment as if we were yelling at a flower to bloom. We cannot find inner or outer peace from this world view.

The inner peace sanctuary we need is within our minds, in our understanding of who we are and our place in the universe. It is within our hearts, as we open to the love that is our true nature, and that supports us in each moment. It is in our bodies that carry us through our lives, so that we may act with compassion and serve a hurting world. It is in our spirits, that know of our inherent unity and that soar ever free. It is within each one of us, as one Earth family, as we learn to see ourselves in each other, as sisters and brothers. We each have the same need for food and shelter and to feel loved, and the same capacity to love and serve. The only difference is in our willingness to cultivate the awareness of our interconnection, which is the foundation of discovering your inner peace sanctuary, that already is.

As you move through the stress of your busy life, see if you can meet the noise of the day by tuning into an underlying stillness and quiet. It is there. Open to it. By engaging with noise, you feel noisy. But by focusing on the quiet, you become still. In that stillness, you will discover greater possibilities, and feel more refreshed and energized. Allow any external sounds remind you of stillness, and know that the still small voice, the peace within, is home.

Parvati is an award-winning singer, composer, producer, yogini, author, and Founder and CEO of the international charity Parvati Foundation. Her work is dedicated to protecting all life on Earth by establishing the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS).