What on earth is radical peace? It was a term that came to me recently, after I had the strangest experience of sitting beside someone in complete silence for an hour, listening to their perfect, steady breathing. After a while, I was in a trance. Despite the ongoing three-ringed circus of my external life, in that hour, I seemed to forget it all. My head was empty, and a feeling of bliss came over me. I hope that all of you experience this at least once in your lives.
I was never a good breather. I think I held my breath most of the day, and there was always a clenched jaw or tight shoulder ready for battle. So you can imagine my absolute wonder in noticing this stranger’s breathing… just in… and… out… and… in… and… out.
In that moment, I vowed that no matter what I did with my life, I would hold onto that feeling with everything I had, and nothing or no one would take it from me. Do your worst, life, I have found the magic recipe. I named that feeling and this new commitment, “radical peace.”
It has become the cornerstone of my purpose and identity. All I have to do is remember the breathing, and it takes me out of the chaos. Life really does take a run at you. So, sometimes I falter. I am but human. It’s not a perfect science.
The problem with embracing radical ideas is that they force you to throw out a lot of stuff you can’t use anymore, even the stuff you loved or were addicted to, like fighting, resentment and revenge. These mindsets become creature comforts to us. And you may be thinking ‘it’s hard to throw out these security blankets in favour of some nebulous concept that may not fight to advance your circumstances.’ Oh, how wrong you are.
Radical peace, like forgiveness (see my other article) is a flex move. If your biggest bully can’t get you to move an inch, because you’re too blissed out to notice them, you automatically win. They might land a punch here and there, and it will hurt, but what more does a bully love than a fight? You now, are taking away the one thing they love by refusing to engage. For once in your life, you have found something so wonderful you will do anything to protect it, and that includes foregoing confrontation, dispute, stress, and whatever else makes you feel crummy. You are just too busy being happy.
If everyone embraced this mindset, there would be no wars. There would be no disputes without civil, restorative justice. There would be a shift in our priorities as families, communities, and countries.
I googled the term, because I wanted to know if radical peace was an existing field of study or philosophical tenet. And oh happy day! This amazing video appeared. In short, “what she said.” The video is 30 minutes. It’s worth it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnn0jIsmsI
Until next time, Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things pass away: God (source, physics) never changes. Patience obtains all things. They who have God (source, physics) find they lack nothing; God (source, physics) alone suffices.
Love, Jen
The pink skies of April 2024.