ISSN: 1839-2318
10 STEPS TO FINDING INNER PEACE
YOGA FOR PEACE PEACE BROKEN DOWN
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December 2013
#30
PEACE
WHAT’S INSIDE 3
Editor’s Note
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Letter to the Editor
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What You Thought Last Month
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Contributors
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Let us Know What You Think!
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5 Ways to Cultivate Inner Peace
Cover image: Lori Portka http://loriportka.com
10 Steps to Cultivate Inner Peace
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Finding Peace Among The Tears
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Affirmation of the Month
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Yoga For Peace
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Wild Sister of the Month
Finding Peace When Life is Challenging You
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28
Meditation for Inner Peace
Creating Your Own Insular Tahiti
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Peace Broken Down
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Inside Out Peace
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Lessons from the Pod
Quotes of the Month
Contribute
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One Thing To Do this Week That Could Change Your Life
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Making Peace with Food
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Latest on the Blog 50
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Connect with us
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December Love
EDITOR’S NOTE Wild one, Welcome to a very powerful and important edition of Wild Sister. This issue, we’re talking about Peace, and the message you’ll find within these pages is very clear: Peace starts from within. This is something I realised a while ago, and ever since I’ve chosen to remove myself from the drama of the outside world. I live a very peaceful life, and for that I am so grateful. But I live this life because I chose it.
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A few years ago, I was completely immersed in drama; my own and the drama of others. Gossip, anger, fear and ego ruled, leaving me twisted and smothered by my own inner chaos. Once I realised I didn’t have to live that way, that peace started with me and within me, everything changed. I can honestly say I have no drama in my life. Of couse, I see chaos on TV, in the lives of some of my friends and family, but I don’t dive into it anymore. And I don’t create it anymore. I create peace instead. And in this edition, you’ll learn how you can do it for yourself.
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1. Celebrating our second wedding anniversary. 2. Stopping to smell the roses. 3. Having fun at the beach with friends. 3
Peace, Jen.
WILDsisters
{DECEMBER 2013}
Editor Assistant Editor
Creative Director Jen Saunders Wild Sister
Dani DiPirro Positively Present
Danielle Tate-Stratton danitatestratton
Dani DiPirro
Jess Carlson
Cinda Stevens Lonsway
Nikki Hassett
Ina Sahaja
Donna Morin
Shai Smith
Sonya Forrest
image: Bryan Wesel
Writers Anne-Sophie Reinhardt
Karina Ladet
Paula Jones
Tahlee Rouillon
Guest Writers Kenzo Koncept Photographer
Kourtney Keil Photographer
Nyokabe Nyoike
Veronica Mather
Heather Waxman
Want to join this amazning group of women by contributing to WILDsister? Click here to find out how. 4
Letter
to THE
EDITOR I want to know what you think of this edition! Has a story inspired you? Want to share your thoughts on this issue? Or you just want to say hi and be featured in the next edition? To share your feedback on this issue, email us with your name, city and country at yoursay@ wildsister.com. You can also connect with us at facebook.com/ wildsistermag or tweet us at @wildsistermag. To get exclusive updates from the editor, sign up to the Wild Sister newsletter here. For subscription options go to wildsister.com/ sisterhood. (Letters chosen for publication may be edited for length.)
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What you thought of last month’s Spirit edition @ @ @ @ @ @ Helene Reinbolt @HeleneReinbolt Reading: Wanderlust edition of @wildsistermag
Crystal @happytype_ @wildsistermag We are sooooo on the same wavelength! I. R. Harris @IRHarrisBooks A truth that needs to be read! LOVE this site! @wildsistermag
JCov @TheRealJCov @jen__saunders You’ve been rocking this month over at @ wildsistermag the messages have been bolder & so authentic. I love what you’re doing!
Andrea Belarruti @belarruti This sunday I promise myself I’ll rest!. Massive amounts of #TheBigBangTheory or any other comedy and a good read @wildsistermag =Susie Contreras Yuen @JustMamaSuz Speaking of @wildsistermag I'm reading the amazing WANDERLUST issue & getting a jones in my bones to EXPLORE MORE. #imawildsister
Elizabeth @sattvicfamily Exploring the world with @wildsistermag #imawildsister
Mary Bartnikowski @bartnikowski Following your heart has boldness and magic in it. @wildsistermag #imawildsister reading How to Sell Your Car and Go to South America.
Tahlee Rouillon @ituderevolution @jen__saunders just wrote the article that’s been on my mind for years on @wildsistermag 6
Rosa Wong @simplemansion I am a Wild Sister, hear me ROAR! @wildsistermag #wildsister
LET US KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK...
instantly
Take a photo of you reading this issue, post it on instagram + tag it with #wildsister. I’ll re-post it and give you a shout-out on our Facebook page!
Tweet it! Here are a few tweetables you can send out right now {I’ll re-tweet it!}: Finding peace with @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo #imawildsister {clicktotweetthis} Reading: PEACE edition of @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo {clicktotweetthis} Loving the latest edition of @wildsistermag http://tinyurl.com/b7426lo #imawildsister {clicktotweetthis}
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TO W ays 5 by Dani DiPirro
CULTIVATE
I’d
love to sit here and write that I’m the most peaceful person in the world and that I strive for peace with all my heart, but I can’t say that’s entirely true. You know, there are those people who you look at or speak to and later think, “That person is really peaceful”? Well, that wouldn’t be me. You might walk away from a conversation with me thinking a lot of things, but I’m pretty sure the idea of “peace” wouldn’t come to your mind. The thing is, I want to be peaceful. Like a lot of people, I want there to be peace in the world and I’ve pretty much summed up the reason why there’s not world peace: We don’t have world peace because too many people lack inner peace. There isn’t peace in the world because many people aren’t at peace with themselves. Yes, I firmly believe that’s true. If everyone in the world (me included!) was at peace with him/herself, there would be no need for hatred and jealousy and spite and wars. There would be happiness and love and, of course, peace. I know this is completely over-simplifying a concept that, let’s be honest, I don’t know all that much about. I’m not an expert on politics or history or 8
INNER Peace even relationships or psychology, so I can’t say that the above statement is based on anything more than my own opinion. I don’t have facts to support it or statistics to say why it would be true. Instead, I just believe it. I know deep down in my heart that this is the truth. Ideally, at this point in the post I’d offer up some grand idea of how we can change the world and create peace everywhere, but I don’t have a grand idea. I only have a small idea, but an idea that I believe could impact the world if we all took it to heart. Here it is. We need to cultivate peace within ourselves. Yes, it’s as simple as that. It would be easy to say that going to peace rallies or making donations or getting involved with politics is the solution, but I believe it’s much more complicated—much more personal—than that. What we need is not more talk of peace; what we need is the creation of peace within ourselves. Personally, what I love about this idea is that I can start doing it right now. Right this second I can start working on my own inner peace, on cultivating an sense of contentment and happiness that I can
pass on to those around me. As I’ve written before, positive thinking and emotions (as well as negative ones) can have a ripple effect. Ever notice how you feel after spending time with someone who is very calm and peaceful? You feel more peaceful. It’s amazing how that works, isn’t it? And we can have a part in creating world peace if we just take some time to work on our own inner peace. We can create a ripple effect of peace just by cultivating peace within us. Growing up, I was a big fan of wishing. (Okay, I still am, though I certainly don’t put the emphasis on it that I once did...) Whenever I used to wish for something personal, I would feel guilty. I would realize that I was wishing for me, when I should be wishing for something big and universal, like world peace. Now I realize that world peace starts with one person. And it’s not even necessarily an act or a word; it’s a state of being. Though this is an area I absolutely need more work in (as does anyone—like me—who has been at one point joked about as being as “high strung as a yapping chihuahua”), I do have some ideas on how to get started on cultivating inner peace. Check ‘em out below... 5 Simple Ways to Cultivate Inner Peace Focus on the present. A lot of inner conflict is a result of worrying about the future or dwelling on the past so a great way to cultivate peace within yourself is to focus on the now.
Simplify your life. You’ve heard it a million times before, but less really is more. The more you simplify your life, the less anxiety and stress you’ll have counteracting your peacefulness. Learn to accept what is. Whenever you choose not to accept what is reality, you’re causing turmoil within yourself. Accept what is and you’ll be a lot more at peace with yourself and the world. Avoid most negativity. While some negativity does have a purpose (such as to alert of us danger), most of it brings you down and if you want to have peace in your life, you have to do what you can to avoid it. Make positive choices. Choose to spend time with positive people in positive situations or you will have a very difficult time having peace in your life. It’s your life—choose your surroundings carefully! Inner peace is a difficult thing to master, but it’s something I truly believe is worth working on. So let’s all try to work on perfecting that ripple effect, spreading peace by embracing it first within ourselves. As always, I’d love to hear about your thoughts on this topic. What do you think about peace and how it relates to inner peace? Any thoughts on how you will be celebrating peace in your Ws own life today?
Dani DiPirro is the author of Stay Positive: Daily Reminders from Positively Present and Live Happily Ever After Now: A Guide + Workbook for Living in the Present Moment. She is also the founder of PositivelyPresent.com a site dedicated to helping people live positively in the present moment. To check out Dani’s latest book, and watch the Stay Positive video, visit StayPositive365.com.
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affirmation
Peace
starts with me and
within
me {clicktotweetthis}
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10Steps to Finding Inner Peace
By Nyokabi Nyoike
“You have peace,” the old woman said, “when you make it with yourself.”
~ Mitch Albom
Peace has been defined by many as the absence of physical war or conflict. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The outer world, whether in a state of war or peace, will never stabilize the war and conflict that goes on within you. Everlasting inner peace, that peace that surpasses all understanding, is drawn from within you not from without. Inner peace takes strength and courage because it requires you to look within yourself without judgment or condemnation. To have inner peace you must trust that the solution to your problem is always within you not without. Below are ten steps to finding your inner peace: Be open Have a mind that is open to the vastness and infinite potential of the universe and everything in it without attachment or expectation. Be open to the fact that there are things you will never know in this life 11
time or the next and yet you have more than enough information for this very moment to live a life you love. Be open to the fact that you are divinely guided and protected all the days of your life. Trust yourself Trust your gut instinct and remember that you are stronger and more powerful than you believe you are. One of my favorite quotes is by Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love; “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light
You are stronger and more powerful than you believe {clicktotweetthis}
shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Still your mind Find moments in your day when you can be still for a couple of minutes whether it’s first thing in the morning or sometime in the evening before bed. You will find that in the midst of your stillness and solitude there lies the power of unshakeable peace. Peace that comes from the depth of your very soul and surpasses all understanding. The power of thought Your physical universe is a manifestation of the thoughts you choose to entertain. Your thoughts have the power to create or destroy. What you think you become. Choose thoughts that empower, uplift and strengthen you. Avoid all thoughts that weaken you. Fill your cup You can only give to others that which you have, nothing more, nothing less, so take the time to nourish your mind, body and soul. Eat the right foods, exercise your body and feed your mind with words that are empowering, inspiring and uplifting. 12
Be present The best way to bring yourself back to the present moment is to consciously begin being aware of your breathing. Mindful breathing throughout the day where you take in deep long breathes puts you in a state of alert presence. Love life Live life boldly and passionately with enchantment by being individually, uniquely you. Do those things that you love and enjoy every day. Live your life’s purpose and do not die with your music still in you. Play Be childlike and play. Life is an adventure, explore it and be enchanted by the world around you. If you don’t remember what play looks like go to a children’s playground and see how a child contemplates a grain
Live life boldly and
passionately {clicktotweetthis}
Take the time to nourish your mind, body, and soul. of sand. There is such bewilderment to everything they see and touch. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw Gratitude There is always inner peace when you are in a state of thanksgiving. The power of gratitude brings your attention to the present moment where you are reminded that at this very instance all is well with my soul. Be grateful for everything in everyday and you will receive more things to be grateful for. Forgive Forgiveness is the releasing of the egos assumptions and expectations of how we think things are supposed to be. When you forgive you shift from a state of fear to a state of love. That is why forgiving is a giving to yourself, a giving of love, compassion, understanding and respect. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it Ws without.” Gautama Buddha 13
image: Kobi Kenzo Koncept
{clicktotweetthis}
Nyokabi Nyoike is the founder of livingurbliss. A magazine that captures the essence of living out loud by being individually, uniquely you. The magazine focuses on living life in bliss filled moments of loving inspiration. Livingurbliss creates a community of likeminded people who are living their life passionately by following their personal legend and refusing to live a mediocre life. Nyokabi Nyoike was born and raised in Nairobi Kenya. She has a BS degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. The essence of who she is, is healing energy, loving inspiration and smiling sunshine. Kabi is passionate about the essence of life and the unfolding of her life’s purpose. She believes she is here to be of service and to add value to the lives of others through livingurbliss. web │ facebook │ twitter │instagram
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