Peace Begins Within
Every day, we are confronted with new headlines—more violence, more war, more division. From the renewed tensions between India and Pakistan, to the devastating wars between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, to the ongoing suffering in Sudan and Yemen—we are witnessing a world that seems to have forgotten one fundamental truth:
Outer peace is impossible without inner peace.
How can we ever expect peace between nations, when so many individuals are still at war within themselves?
We’ve normalized blame, retaliation, and the dangerous myth of “justified violence.” We’ve accepted the narrative that peace is naïve and that power must be asserted through dominance. But history—and our own hearts—tell a different story. “An eye for an eye” eventually leaves the whole world blind.
We keep waiting for the “other side” to make the first move. We point fingers, saying “they started it.” It sounds painfully familiar—like the arguments of children. But the consequences are tragically adult: homes destroyed, lives lost, entire generations traumatized.
The truth is: maturity is choosing peace even when we feel wronged. It is rising above the primitive pull of vengeance, and instead choosing to build bridges.
Peace is not just a ceasefire. It is a deep understanding of our shared humanity. It is rooted in the realization that whatever we do unto another, we do unto ourselves.
Real peace begins when we still the chaos within us—when we choose compassion over judgment, curiosity over certainty, listening over shouting. When we teach our children—and ourselves—that real strength lies not in aggression, but in restraint, empathy, and wisdom.
Yes, the world feels like it’s burning. But even in fire, seeds can sprout.
Let’s be the ones who plant them.
Let us live from a place of calm clarity and fierce compassion, so we may model the kind of leadership, dialogue, and coexistence our world so desperately needs.
Because peace is not a destination. It is a daily practice. And it starts inside.
Much love, Barbara.
PS for more information about my work: https://www.barbaravercruysse.com/
