The O’Toole Chronicles: Finding Inner Peace

As we have learned since grammar school, nothing substitutes for experience. As I continue to walk along the sands of time, I find myself agreeing more and more with this statement, even though for years I dismissed it as empty, vacuous,  and useless rhetoric. What do they say about wasted youth?

I take today’s column to expand on this underlying premise regarding experience and carry it to the higher truth of finding inner peace in your own life. I think it is essential that we make an effort to find inner peace and, in doing so, come to understand the larger world around us and our place within it.

Growing up, how many of us really felt comfortable in a classroom setting, in gym class, or on a baseball diamond, as other, more talented individuals drew the attention and adoration of the decision-makers? Whether it be social anxiety, lack of self-worth, or a lack of confidence instilled by poor parenting, many of us searched for more and probably shied away from uncomfortable interactions. Talk about wasted opportunities.

As some of the young Turks on the move can attest, the truth is that very few of us can admit that we found peace as we were toiling away as young up-and-comers looking to burn the villages and take over the world. To the contrary, and speaking from personal experience, to make up for this lack of inner peace or lack of self-confidence, I relied upon an unrelenting work ethic and a constant agitation and unrest that propelled me to overcome this societal deficiency.

I found that this nonstop motion and commotion, when channeled properly, and followed with a strand of luck or opportunity, usually allowed me to claim victory, until the next challenge was put before me and it was off to the races again, But, with time, things change.

At the end of the day, I have learned that experience cannot be substituted, and I have found that many of the silver-haired professionals I now consider colleagues have found a rhythm and somehow managed to come to terms with their lot in life, and some have stopped the relentless chase. This search to be successful, to be recognized, to be rewarded or to be accepted, as experience has taught me, is really a dead end and wasted opportunity. Ultimately, in the end, you needed to be happy, actually thrilled, with yourself and your life. Truth be told, and this is experience talking, you need to find acceptance and inner peace.

The conclusion of this riffing is that we need to understand as we scurry along through our sometimes complicated and overscheduled lives, we often don’t take time to find that inner peace, and that needs to be changed immediately.

Times to inject the dixie cup thoughts of the day and put some inner peace concepts into the atmosphere.

No one can bring you peace but yourself.

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.

If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.

Peace begins with a smile.

Don’t try for anything except peace. Try to calm the mind. Everything else will come on its own.

Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.

Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.

Cultivate a positive mindset.

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.

I’m hopeful that today’s column has some impact and allows some to start the journey to find inner peace. No one is suggesting that we need to adopt the persona of the Dalai Lama and accept the world without a fight. We should fight to find our success and our place, but do it for ourselves. I’m thinking like the character Tom Laughlin plays in the 1971 movie, Billy Jack. Watch the movie and you will understand.