Freedom from Trouble

It was so easy to find peace in the Rocky Mountains while enjoying relaxing soaks in a hot springs resort. I came back from that vacation renewed and ready to go again. It was easy to relax when I removed myself from the situations or daily activity that cause me distress at times.  Getting away is one of the easiest ways to find peace whether it’s on the beach, the hot springs, skiing, exercising, or loosing yourself in a good movie.

What about finding peace when you’re experiencing:

1. Slow moving traffic
2. Getting a root canal
3. A difficult test
4. The complaint of an unreasonable client
5. The 13th interview with the same company
6. Working seven days a week without a break

Marcus Aurelius was an amazing Roman Emperor who is mostly remembered today for his journal which is now called “The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius”. His reign was full of challenges that included natural disasters, plagues, numerous wars, and conspiracies against him. One day he wrote this in his journal:

“Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou, too, art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more quite or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul…”

What I think he is saying here is that for most people it is easier to find peace by finding external retreats. The real challenge is to be able to go within and find peace at a moment’s notice.

Circumstances in life change and sometimes we’re not able to get away to our favorite spot and we find ourselves more irritable. The point is that relying on external sources to find peace is giving up our power to find peace inside. This is the sign of true freedom.

Whoever has the ability to find the most peaceful spot inside has attained great freedom. This is something that I stive for and will work on for the rest of my life.

How about you? Are you able to find peace inside when it’s not possible to get away?

Photo Credits, Ssoosay

Tagged as: Success