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lives: the wind that erratically blows us about like pieces of newspaper is unintentional, and often quite random.

Imagine for a moment that you are in a boat, on a lake. Another boat comes toward you, and you flail and shout, but the boat doesn't change course. It hits your boat, scratching the paint, and denting the side. You're furious - why weren't they looking or listening? This is their fault! They'll have to Then you notice that the other boat is completely empty. The anger fades immediately - it was an accident. It just happened.

Remember that all such misfortunes - even those put upon us by other people - are empty in the same way. A fully conscious mind can not intend harm, as a fully conscious mind is naturally altruistic and compassionate. The ills that befall you are unintentional, placed in your life not by a god, or a demon, or a devil. They are all empty. You need not react with anger. It does no good, and in remaining unnecessarily agitated - with temper tantrums, swearing, or grief - you're only harming yourself. None of us ever has to take a problem personally if we don't want to.

10) Explore.

Seeing new things adds to worldliness and peacefulness, as it's much easier to keep the mind in the present moment when the present moment keeps changing into something brand new.

You could travel to faraway lands - Europe, Asia, and Australia come to mind - or you could take a different route home from work or school. Try ignoring some of your fears of new things, and go to a different bar, or visit with a new group of people at a party. Fresh experiences refresh our minds, pulling us out of semi-conscious internal thought cycles, and bringing us closer to the variety in nature and in human culture.

For thousands of years, human beings and their ancestors gradually defined themselves as separate from the rest of the animal kingdom. They grew, raised families, hunted, collected, and died, constantly confronted by dangers requiring immediate action. Now, we're pretty safe, especially in the world's richer countries, and there's no better time than now to reconcile our old drives with the reality around us. This is the key to finding inner peace.

Learn more about this author, Currie Jean.
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