Peace of Mind

Lent 2019, Day 17

Peace of mind, whatever your age, state of health, and income, is the most important element in your life. Some of the factors are within your control, but others lie beyond. For me, now, the impending fate of the United Kingdom with Brexit looming, is a major factor depriving me of peace of mind. A crashing pound may wipe a quarter off the value of my savings and pensions; travel difficulties may emerge; mobile roaming charges would apply; two-way trade and investment between the UK and Poland - essentially my bread-and-butter - would decline; the UK would no longer be seen as a global exemplar of best practice from whom to seek instruction.

I'm doing what I can - encouraging people to sign the online petition to stop Brexit, and marching tomorrow in Central London. And fighting daily on Twitter (usually under a nom-de-guerre). But these are things about which the individual can do little.

My father, who lived through the German invasion of Poland, the occupation, the Warsaw Uprising and a prisoner-of-war camp, says that 'one can get used to anything'. That attitude - a mix of acceptance and fortitude - saw him through those tragic years. He is a constant reminder of me of the importance of peace of mind, staying strong in the face of adversity - which today is coping with the practical difficulties associated with being at a very advanced age.

In normal times, achieving peace of mind, being able to sleep soundly, I associate with the feeling that I have accomplished my daily goals, that I have spent the day moving in the right direction towards fulfilling my potential as a human. If there's one thing that deprives me of peace of mind when I retire, it's laziness. A feeling of too many things left undone.

I am well aware that laziness has held me back - has held most of us back - from getting closer to a fulfilled potential in life.

My life goals today are mainly metaphysical, reaching out for a greater understanding of what it is that makes us human, where our spiritual needs come from, searching for that among the memory of qualia, seeking out spirit of place, seeking those places that bring peace of mind.

Meditation helps, a short, simple moment of calming oneself down, focusing on breathing, on existing - something that can be done on the bus, in the office, in bed - a quick, easy way to regain peace of mind.

Calling on the Love of God, that inner hug, that welling up of tears of joy - it's not something that everyone can do; and not always are you in the right mood, but try, and you may be able to surround yourself with an aura of universal peace. Then is the time to pray for the world.

This time three years ago:
The Name of God and the Consciousness of Everything

This time five years ago:
The clash of narratives

This time six years ago:
The Church and democracy

This time seven years ago:
Prime lens or zoom?

This time eight years ago:
Warsaw's failed bid as City of Culture, 2016

This time nine years ago:
Stalinist downtown at dusk

This time ten years ago:
The End of an Age of Excess?

This time 11 years ago:
Snowy Easter in England