Mindful Monday: Peace is an Inside Job
Every four years, I get the unique experience of celebrating my true birthday—February 29th. But what about the years in between, like this one? There’s no February 29th, so I get to choose when and how I celebrate. And this year, I’m celebrating today, on March 3rd, because—why not?
Reflecting on my journey over the past year, I realize just how much there is to be grateful for. I am deeply thankful for the love and connection of everyone in my life, including you. Writing this blog each week has become profoundly meaningful and transformative for me.
So, thank you!
This past year has been filled with blessings—the gift of presence, the ever-unfolding journey of my soul, and the loving embrace of the Divine.
That doesn’t mean it was all sunshine and roses. Challenges arose, but so did grace. Through acceptance and compassion, I found peace.
For much of my life, I longed for peace but never quite found it. Like many, I searched for it in external achievements—work, relationships, success. I was conditioned to believe that peace would come once I had ‘enough’ of something. But those fleeting moments of happiness often left me feeling more anxious, empty, and disconnected.
I’m not suggesting that what happens in our outer lives isn’t valuable—it is. But it is not the source of our peace. The peace that comes from external circumstances is fleeting. And when those circumstances inevitably change, we are left searching once again.
When we turn our GPS inward, it leads us to peace - an essential quality of our true nature.
When I first stepped onto a spiritual path, I believed that feeling peaceful meant I was doing something ‘right’ and that struggling with difficult emotions meant I was failing. I equated peace with happiness, not realizing that peace isn’t about feeling good all the time—it’s about being present and offering myself compassion, no matter what arises.
At some point, I was gently guided to a deeper truth:
Peace is an inside job.
It doesn’t come from avoiding discomfort but from meeting life as it is. It arises from the courage to be present, to stay curious, and to hold myself with compassion. It comes from honouring all parts of myself.
I’ve learned that:
Peace is found in presence, not in perfection.
Peace is available even when life is uncertain.
Peace is not about fixing anything—it’s about embracing what is.
When we approach the present moment with sincere curiosity and openness, we reconnect with the purity, peace, and childlike essence we were born with—our true nature.
I know what it’s like to live with fear, anxiety, and pain. And now, I know what it feels like to be deeply connected to peace.
Inner peace is the greatest gift we can give ourselves—and in doing so, we share it with the world. While no one can walk our journey for us, walking alongside other like-minded souls makes the path more meaningful, transformative, and joyful.
May we continue this journey of self-discovery together.
Blessings of peace,
Diane