I had a spiritual conversation with a friend a few years ago and I said to her, ‘all I want is peace of mind.’ She replied, ‘you will find it.’ She was right, and these days I would make you the same promise if you sign up for the spiritual journey in earnest. Admittedly, it isn’t quite the peace of mind the Course in Miracle promises. This kind of peace can only be given by the Grace of God. No, the peace of mind I talk about is the knowing that today is as good as it gets. I am at peace with what is. The AAA guarantee I subscribe to goes like that:
Authenticity is all that really matters.
No aspiration – nothing left to prove.
Acceptance of what is.
Authenticity is not a badge of honor, it is a mission statement. Being authentic means that what we think, say and do are identical. Some religions want you to become pure instead; it didn’t work for me. I have way too many inner conflicts for that, but authenticity is a goal that can be reached. If what I think, say and do no longer coincide I need to make an adjustment. Sometimes it is as simple as dumping lofty goals. For example, a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders when I dumped that elusive ‘enlightenment’ goal. Let other people be enlightened. I don’t care. Authenticity on the other hand is a goal that is under my control. What you see with me is what you get. Authenticity gives me peace of mind.
The absence of aspiration is a perk of walking the Way. Sure we have dreams, and sure, there is a path that we are working towards, but we don’t expect that anything will be different than what is here and now. Actually, I had that realization already in my last job. During the times when my predictions were celebrated by my colleagues I felt fine, but it didn’t mean the world to me as I would have thought earlier. Likewise, I will be fine with whatever comes my way these days. I learned that it is always ‘the best of times and the worst of times’. This insight gives me peace of mind.
Acceptance of ‘what is’ is similar. There are days when I am happier than others, but I somehow always accept what is without wishing it away. It is the trust that a higher Power guides me and that at the end of the day the story that I am embedded in will make sense to me. Acceptance gives me peace of mind.
Our spiritual community has a big problem. Many want to be happy; some want to be enlightened, and there are some who promise them what they can’t. Karma determines happiness and ‘enlightenment’ comes by the Grace of God. You can get off that treadmill here and now. I can’t promise you ‘success’, and I for sure can’t promise you happiness. What I can promise you is peace of mind, and with it comes contentment. I can give you the AAA guarantee that you also have it one day.
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