If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought,
acted and inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace
and harmony. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Seek to love, not
control others.
Ceasing to seek power over people and outcomes in your life is the first
major step to living peacefully. Trying to control people is about
seeking to impose your will and reality on others without ever trying to
see their side of things. A controlling approach to relationships will
keep you in conflict with others. Replacing a will to control with a
broad approach of loving others instead, including their faults and
differences, is the way to a peaceful life.
Moderate your
convictions.
Thinking in absolutes and holding to convictions without ever considering
the viewpoints and perspectives of others is a sure way to live a life
without peace. This type of extremist thinking usually leads to
reactive, hasty, and driven behavior that lacks the benefit of
reflection and deliberative thinking. While this may be convenient
because it allows you to act with the confidence of absolute conviction,
it blocks out other realities in the world and can easily lead you into
conflict when other people fail to agree with your convictions. It's
harder work to remain open-minded and ready to review your
understandings, yet it's more rewarding because you'll grow as a person
and live in greater harmony with those around you.
Be tolerant. Tolerance in all that
you think and do will make a difference in your life and in the lives of
others around you. Tolerance for others is about appreciating diversity,
the plurality of modern society, and being willing to live and let
others live too. When we fail to tolerate others' beliefs, ways of
being, and opinions, the end result can be discrimination, repression,
dehumanization, and ultimately violence. Practicing tolerance is at the
heart of living peacefully.
Be peaceful. Gandhi said
"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no cause
that I am prepared to kill for." A peaceful person does not use
violence against another person or animal (sentient beings). While there
is much violence in this world, make a choice to not let death and
killing be a part of your philosophy of living.
Reflect. Reflection of thought is important – many a hasty response has
resulted in a tragic outcome because time to think through all of the issues
and angles has not been taken. Naturally, there are times when fast action is
essential to ensure safety but these times do not excuse the many other times
when reacting with care and consideration will result in much better outcomes
for all concerned.
