# Question About Peace **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140 "2013-09-06T02:40:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/1 "2013-09-06T02:40:26Z")
I’ve been mulling this question over and can’t seem to come to a concrete answer. On the surface it seems the answer is evident. But I wonder. So, here’s my question: Is there a downside to experiencing Inner Peace? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/2 "2013-09-06T03:14:37Z")
[moderating] I believe that this thread is much better suited to IMHO than GQ, so I have moved it accordingly. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/3 "2013-09-06T03:16:30Z")
Just everyone considering you a smug bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/4 "2013-09-06T03:21:14Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Just everyone considering you a smug bastard. So the answer is clearly “no problem”. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/5 "2013-09-06T13:23:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Just everyone considering you a smug bastard. **A+** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/6 "2013-09-06T13:25:03Z")
> [@Phil\_CostaMesa](#): > > I’ve been mulling this question over and can’t seem to come to a concrete answer. On the surface it seems the answer is evident. But I wonder. So, here’s my question: > > Is there a downside to experiencing Inner Peace? I haven’t found one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/7 "2013-09-06T14:44:19Z")
Ok, so no one seems to think there’s a downside to Inner Peace. So then,… Why (at least it seems to me) is it that the majority of people are not experiencing Inner Peace? It seems to me, MOST people must believe there’s something wrong with experiencing Inner Peace. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/8 "2013-09-06T15:22:31Z")
Why (at least it seems to me) is it that the majority of people are not experiencing Immortality? It seems to me, MOST people must believe there’s something wrong with experiencing Immortality. Answer: It’s not easy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/9 "2013-09-06T15:29:15Z")
> [@Phil\_CostaMesa](#): > > Ok, so no one seems to think there’s a downside to Inner Peace. So then,… > > Why (at least it seems to me) is it that the majority of people are not experiencing Inner Peace? > > It seems to me, MOST people must believe there’s something wrong with experiencing Inner Peace. > > What do you think? 1. What do you mean by “Inner Peace”? 2. Do you think you have achieved it? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/10 "2013-09-06T15:37:03Z")
I achieve inner peace quite often, but unfortunately someone always comes along and destroys it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/11 "2013-09-06T15:41:11Z")
Is this about Amway? ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/12 "2013-09-06T15:49:05Z")
xx ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/13 "2013-09-06T15:51:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1. What do you mean by “Inner Peace”? > 2. Do you think you have achieved it? I feel Inner Peace much of the time. I believe the main reason I can or do is, I learned awhile back that it’s only how I think ABOUT things that causes however I feel. (So, it’s NOT my circumstances or what others say or do that CAUSES me to feel however I feel.) With that understanding I’ve found it works to examine what I’m thinking, when I’m upset about anything. And I’ve found I can usually find a way to think about things so that I’m no longer upset with them. I used to believe how I felt was being CAUSED by my circumstances and/or what others did (or didn’t do) etc. Now that I know this isn’t true I am much freer to experience Inner Peace or Inner Calm. ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/14 "2013-09-06T16:04:22Z")
It seems to me, the reason MOST people don’t experience Inner Peace or Inner Calm is, most of us have been ‘trained’ to think/believe that EXTERNAL conditions (circumstances, other people) are MAKING us feel however we feel. I was brought up to believe this. I heard things like, “See how you upset your mother.” Or, “These bills are making me crazy.” I think much of Mass Media perpetjuates this way of thinking. For example, do you think you might be less afraid or upset, if you didn’t listen to all the news, especially the way it’s usually presented? It also seems that most of Pop Music Lyrics perpetuate the idea that it’s OTHER people who are making US feel however we do (but the truth is still, we make ourselves feel however we do, by how we think ABOUT the other person and what they are doing or not doing, etc.). PoP Music lyrics: YOU made me so very happy. YOU are the sunshine of my life. Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. YOU are the wind beneath my wings. The hidden message: I’m not responsible for how I feel. YOU are. It seems to me, we’re TRAINED to think we’re not responsible for how we feel. And so, we come to BELIEVE we can’t experience Inner Peace (or some other good feeling) because of this. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/15 "2013-09-06T16:11:48Z")
The trouble with pop psychology is that an hour later you’re streaming more Deepak Chopra. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/16 "2013-09-06T16:16:48Z")
> [@Phil\_CostaMesa](#): > > It seems to me, the reason MOST people don’t experience Inner Peace or Inner Calm is, most of us have been ‘trained’ to think/believe that EXTERNAL conditions (circumstances, other people) are MAKING us feel however we feel. > > I was brought up to believe this. I heard things like, “See how you upset your mother.” Or, “These bills are making me crazy.” > > I think much of Mass Media perpetjuates this way of thinking. For example, do you think you might be less afraid or upset, if you didn’t listen to all the news, especially the way it’s usually presented? > > It also seems that most of Pop Music Lyrics perpetuate the idea that it’s OTHER people who are making US feel however we do (but the truth is still, we make ourselves feel however we do, by how we think ABOUT the other person and what they are doing or not doing, etc.). > > PoP Music lyrics: > > YOU made me so very happy. > > YOU are the sunshine of my life. > > Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. > > YOU are the wind beneath my wings. > > The hidden message: I’m not responsible for how I feel. YOU are. > > It seems to me, we’re TRAINED to think we’re not responsible for how we feel. And so, we come to BELIEVE we can’t experience Inner Peace (or some other good feeling) because of this. Please see post #3. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/17 "2013-09-06T16:24:00Z")
> [@Phil\_CostaMesa](#): > > It seems to me, the reason MOST people don’t experience Inner Peace or Inner Calm is, most of us have been ‘trained’ to think/believe that EXTERNAL conditions (circumstances, other people) are MAKING us feel however we feel. That may be part of it, but ultimately, humans are mortal and full of fear. Fear is pretty instinctive and hard to talk or think your way out of. Things happen that are out of our control and it’s tough to accept that and let it go. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/18 "2013-09-06T16:33:37Z")
“Inner Peace?” I guess that may be all well and good, but “Inner Peace” is not going to put food on the table or a roof over my head. It seems as if the only people who maintain “Inner Peace” are mystics who have detached themselves from the real world, or simpletons who do not recognize the real world. ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_CostaMesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Phil\_CostaMesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phil_CostaMesa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/19 "2013-09-06T16:58:41Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > “Inner Peace?” I guess that may be all well and good, but “Inner Peace” is not going to put food on the table or a roof over my head. It seems as if the only people who maintain “Inner Peace” are mystics who have detached themselves from the real world, or simpletons who do not recognize the real world. It sounds to me you’re saying that NOT experiencing Inner Peace leads to putting food on the table? My experience seems to be, the more I’m internally at peace or calm the mow I’m able to deal effectively with things like putting food on the table, paying my bills, not spending money on things because I’m upset (like drugs, alcohol, etc.). It doesn’t seem to me to be mysticism. It seems to me, Inner Peace is practical, and obtainable, without having to retreat to some monastary in the Himalayas. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140/20 "2013-09-06T17:27:57Z")
> [@Phil\_CostaMesa](#): > > My experience seems to be, the more I’m internally at peace or calm the mow I’m able to deal effectively with things like putting food on the table, paying my bills, not spending money on things because I’m upset (like drugs, alcohol, etc.). Chicken and egg - lots of people have difficulty putting food on the table and no amount of inner peace is going to help that. It’s great that it works for you but life is a lot more complicated than that for most people. Yes, slowing down and looking for internal validation is good but people aren’t that simple and neither is life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-peace/668140.md?page=2)