While most of us want to think of ourselves as peace-loving people we may sometimes find it difficult to practice what we preach.  Even the best of us allow ourselves to become all riled up due to circumstances or even people.  There may even be one particular person in your life who seems to be assigned to helping you (although it often feels like forcing you) to learn to practice peace.  You know who I’m talking about.  That person who walks into a room and every muscle tightens, your blood pressure rises and you are ready for a fight.  They don’t have to even do anything but be there.

We need to see these people as the teachers they are.  They come into our lives to help us learn to live peace and to see the Divine in all people, even the ones who don’t have to do anything to really tick us off.

There are tools we can use to help us learn to practice peace.  This ancient Tibetan Buddhist blessing is a beautiful one.

May you be filled with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be happy.

When we learn to say this blessing while seeing a person we may have difficulty with in our minds, we are on our way to learning to practice peace in our daily lives.  Remember the first step to peace in the world is peace in our hearts.