We’re almost halfway through the year. Now is the perfect time to reflect and choose how you want to spend the rest of the year going forward. You may have set resolutions in the beginning of the year to
break old habits, eat healthier,or go to the gym, but what about how you coexist? When you coexist peacefully within yourself, with others, and with nature, you can truly make the world a healthier, happier, and more peaceful place. But, it all begins with you.
In this article, learn 4 ways you can create a peaceful environment within yourself, within your relationships, and with nature.
1. Connect to Your True Self
In order to live in
peaceful coexistence, it is important to first connect to yourself. When you live as your true self, you know who you are and what you want from your existence in this lifetime. You understand your needs, fears, and beliefs. Getting to know yourself and uncovering what makes you unique in the world will make it easier to understand your importance and how your actions can affect others and the earth.
For many of us, finding our true selves takes a great deal of introspection and life training. A simple way to begin is to
start with meditation and finding time to be alone with yourself. In
New York Times bestselling author Ilchi Lee’s book,
Connect: How to Find Clarity and Expand Your Consciousness with Pineal Gland Meditation, he displays multiple ways to activate your pineal gland through meditation so that you can turn your focus inward and dig deep into your existence and purpose.
2. Practice Empathy
Empathy is possible when you look past your own experiences and beliefs and open your heart to understanding the joys, pains, and realities of those around you. This starts with the closest relationships to you, your family and friends, and extends into your community. It is beneficial to often pause and try to view the world through someone else's eyes, especially if you are having a hard time understanding them in times of conflict or disagreement.
To live in peaceful coexistence, it is important to be accepting of diversity and differences. This includes respecting and appreciating the uniqueness of each individual, recognizing that every human is an important part of the global tapestry.
3. Cultivate a Harmonious Relationship with Nature
Peaceful coexistence is more than simply living harmoniously with other people. Coexistence means recognizing the oneness of all life, the connectivity of all living things, and understanding that we all come from nature.
One way to cultivate a relationship with nature is to
spend more time outdoors appreciating nature. Taking a walk in the park, going for a hike in the woods, or just sitting on a bench paying attention to the colors, the textures, and the smells of the outdoors can foster a deeper connection. Another way is by educating yourself about the natural world, learning about how species interact, how ecosystems evolve and thrive, and developing a better understanding of how you fit into the grand scheme of it all. Finally, making an effort to protect and preserve nature through recycling and cleaning up the environment whenever you can is another simple way to coexist.
4. Take Action
To create change in your life and the lives of others, you must take action. You can begin small and ask yourself, “How can I be a force for positive change today?” You can perform small acts of kindness and use words to uplift others by speaking in a way that is calm, gentle, and positive. Even the smallest gesture for yourself and your loved ones can make a world of difference.
For the rest of this year, try to consciously consider coexistence as a whole and how your actions can create a ripple effect for good. Once the habit of choosing coexistence is created through being positive and kind with yourself, your relationships, and nature, it can be grown into a more meaningful and peaceful existence.
Realizing the beautiful vision of peaceful coexistence starts with each one of us committing to the effort of connecting to ourselves, creating a relationship with nature, and fostering the habit of being empathetic and kind in our relationships. Let us all strive towards a more harmonious and peaceful world in 2023 and beyond!
Editor’s Note: Learn more about living in coexistence with yourself, others, and nature in Ilchi Lee’s book, The Art of Coexistence: How You and I Can Save the World.