Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Peace Part 7
February 24, 2025
One of the most effective ways of reconnecting with our peace is through the spoken word. When disheartened or afraid, our unchecked ego mind can work overtime to help us feel better. Depending on our ego type and stress level, it may tell us many things — all the way from “Don’t worry” to “You are doomed.” But many times, in overwhelming fear and discouragement, our ego’s efforts don’t work. If fear and negativity get a foothold, it’s very hard for others to comfort us. If something doesn’t happen to relieve the situation, we can move toward panic and depression. When we’re completely out of touch with our peace, it’s time for the soul to take over.
Peace Part 6
February 23, 2025
In the womb, we float in amniotic fluid, and nurturance is provided through the umbilical cord. We don’t expend energy on navigating the world or making our needs known; they are automatically met. We are carried around in a warm container insulated from the outside world. Though there are a lot of sounds in the womb, such as voices, mother’s digestion, and heartbeat, we are used to these sounds because they have been there forever. So, we begin life in relative calm and peacefulness. But our peaceful condition is disturbed once we come into the world with its demands, fears, desires, and stressors. Our essence is preserved in our soul child years, but as demands increase, we eventually give control over to the ego.
Peace Part 5
February 22, 2025
It is challenging to be peaceful with ourselves, especially in the middle of chaos and conflict. One of my most potentially chaotic situations is making it through TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints in airports. Besides standing in long lines, we passengers must keep track of our IDs and boarding passes while unloading our pockets, taking off coats, belts, shoes, and glasses, and unloading our phones, computers, wallets, passports, and watches, and placing them in bins.
Peace Part 4
February 21, 2025
Emotions such as terror, anxiety, confusion, hatred, dread, and any of the nine major passions are part of life. Such emotions and passions are brought about by life's difficulties, such as abandonment, sickness, illness, loss, injury, death, and the myriad of traumas we experience of mind, body, and heart. To have Peace in the face of these difficult or even terrible experiences, we must have a belief system that provides strength, faith, and hope.
Peace Part 3
February 20, 2025
One of the greatest enemies of peace is uncertainty. In uncertain times, we want reassurance that all is well. But oftentimes, that assurance is not available. There may be a huge financial problem or a health issue that cannot be solved readily. Maybe someone we care about is in a severe crisis, and we do not know what to do.
Peace Part 2
February 19, 2025
Having and keeping peace within ourselves is a wonderful state of being. Those who live spiritually and desire peace must surrender their burdens to a power beyond themselves. But to release our burdens, we must often also surrender our complete understanding and control of them. Then we can place the burdens in the care of a superior understanding. This superior understanding is that of the Divine.
Peace Part 1
February 18, 2025
Are you at peace? If you are, what makes you peaceful? If you are not, what prevents it? Peace is calmness and tranquility; it is the absence of conflict and the expression of harmony. In peacefulness, we are serene and emanate serenity.
Making Peace with the Past Part 4
December 2, 2024
Most of us human beings share the characteristic of needing to make Peace with ourselves. We prefer closure to loose ends, and inner calm to chaos. Most favor harmony over discord. This characteristic reminds me of the child who “fesses up” to get things off their chest before going to bed and, on the other end of the spectrum, the dying person who clears their conscience before entering the next life….