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Dwelling in the Land of Tranquility
by Jerry Lopper
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COPYRIGHT: ©2003 by Jerry Lopper. All rights reserved
WORD COUNT: 517
FORMAT: This article is formatted to 61 cpl.
Are you dwelling in the land of tranquility or the land of
turmoil? Given a choice, which would you select?
a). A life surrounded by peace, tranquility, and love, or
b). A life surrounded by strife, turmoil, and anger?
Many people will say they would pick a), tranquility, given
a choice, but the world is such that b), turmoil, is the
environment surrounding them. Yet, where we dwell day by day
is really a choice. Many of us are choosing to dwell in
turmoil--perhaps subconsciously--but choosing nonetheless.
Every time we bitterly, angrily contest some life situation
we pick b), turmoil. Each time we righteously declare what
is right or wrong for someone else we pick b). Criticizing a
spouse needlessly, correcting minor errors publicly, and
arguing for the title of being "right" is a b) choice.
Deciding to participate in a derisive or demeaning attack on
some faction of humans based on a difference--race,
religion,sex, politics, or personal behavior--is a choice
for b).
Each time we help another being--just for the sheer love of
helping another--we choose a), tranquility. Every time we
distance ourselves from those who demean others as a way of
feeling good about themselves we pick a). Living a life that
is always true to self, while allowing others to do the
same, is an a) choice.
But, you might say, look at all the anger in the world
around us. See the daily reports of killing, rape, combat,
cheating, and stealing that goes on around us. How can you
ignore it? That's reality, you might say.
No, that's your reality because you've chosen to be within
it. Watching it, reading about it, talking about it, and
modeling it in your personal environment creates the reality
surrounding you. You're creating the land in which you
dwell--turmoil. The land of tranquility exists
simultaneously, but you must choose to dwell within it.
Is it "sticking your head in the sand" to live in
tranquility while turmoil boils around you, or vice-versa?
The issue is not whether both tranquility and turmoil exist
in the world--they do exist simultaneously and in parallel,
yet worlds apart. The issue is which you choose.
So, where do you choose to live today, tranquility or
turmoil? If you're a long-time resident of turmoil, take a
one week vacation in the land of tranquility. Stay there for
a week and observe your feelings. Life is easier in the land
of tranquility.
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