A few weeks ago, I attended the Walk for Peace — and it turned out to be a surprisingly pivotal moment for me.
It changed me.
It invited me into a new lens for how I see the world and my place within it.
Those monks walked over 2,300 miles through some of the harshest winter weather we’ve had in years. If I imagine myself doing that, I picture a very different experience — complaining, exhausted, frustrated with the wind whipping my face day after day.
But they walked.
And they carried their inner peace with them.
What Does It Mean to Cultivate Inner Peace in a Chaotic World?
The world right now can feel overwhelming. There is so much noise, so much intensity, so many forces pulling at our attention.
Through these letters, my intention is to offer an invitation — not to turn away from what’s happening, but to engage with it from a different place. An invitation to step out of the chaos internally, even while remaining aware of what’s unfolding around us.
I keep thinking back to those monks. The field of peace they carried was palpable. As they walked, more and more people began to gather — some walking alongside them, others simply standing quietly on the sidewalks to witness.
They didn’t need to say anything.
The energy they carried was contagious.
That’s power.
And it made me wonder: what would happen if each of us took even one step toward cultivating inner peace in our own lives?
This Isn’t About Becoming a Monk
This isn’t about being Buddhist or renouncing the world. Anyone could have taken that walk and cultivated that same field of peace. The difference is simply that those monks have spent many years doing deep inner and contemplative work.
There’s a teaching that says: if we are at war within ourselves, we will struggle to create peace in the world around us.
And if we’re honest, most of us know what those inner battles feel like.
The Inner Splits That Keep Us From Peace
You may have experienced something like this:
A part of you wants to do something meaningful or exciting. But another part says, No, you can’t do that. That’s unrealistic. That’s risky. Who do you think you are?
These are what we call inner splits — different parts of ourselves pulling in opposite directions.
Many people live with a strong inner judge or critic. One part of you judges, and another part absorbs and believes those judgments. This internal conflict is one of the most common barriers to cultivating inner peace — and one of the least talked about.
Coming to Peace: A Practice for Inner Conflict
One of the most powerful processes I use regularly — in my work with clients and in my own inner life — is something called Coming to Peace.
In this process, we gently bring awareness to these conflicting parts of ourselves and help them begin to communicate and understand one another. Instead of pushing those parts away, judging them, or trying to override them, we listen to what each part is trying to protect or express. We investigate what these parts need.
What often emerges is surprising.
Parts that once felt critical, fearful, or resistant begin to soften when they feel heard and understood. And the inner tension that once felt overwhelming can begin to shift into clarity, compassion, and quite literally — peace.
Peace From the Inside Out
This is one of the ways we begin cultivating inner peace — not by suppressing what’s difficult, but by turning toward it with curiosity and care.
And when that inner peace grows, it naturally begins to ripple outward: into our relationships, our decisions, and the way we move through the world.
In times like these, this kind of inner work may be one of the most meaningful things we can do.
If you’re curious about this kind of exploration — or if you’ve noticed those inner parts battling it out — this is exactly the work we can do together.
Sometimes, simply beginning the conversation is the first step toward peace.
