Finding Peace in the Middle of It All

Lessons of Light #36

Laurie Gunning Grossman

Oct 08, 2025

I was walking upstairs in our home and thought to myself, I’m ready to write another newsletter.

I said under my breath, “What do I want to talk about?”

And then out loud, “What do I want to talk about?”

Because here’s what’s on the top of my mind in this moment:

The ups and downs of building a business
My kids and all the ways I hope they’re okay
The squirrels living in the pine tree outside our front door, driving me bananas with their endless droppings
The rules to mahjong
The coyotes that keep roaming our neighborhood looking for our pets
The news
My mom being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer

Yes, that last one is the biggest life mic drop of all.

Life can feel like a lot – so much so that it tries (and often succeeds) to pull us from our peace.

In the past I used to think like this: Once things calm down, then I’ll feel better.

Once the to-do list is checked off. Once the news isn’t so heavy. Once everyone I love is okay.

But peace doesn’t come from those external things lining up – because does it ever actually line up? And even if it did, turns out: that still would not make us feel peaceful.

Why not?

Because peace begins within us. It’s not an external energy to chase. It’s something we choose to connect with internally, over and over again, right in the middle of it all.

ON CHALLENGES

I’ve been thinking about something I heard recently — I wish I could remember where it came from, but it’s been sticking with me.

The challenge in front of you right now is your purpose.

In the past, I’ve wanted to rush past the hard things. Do we have to address it? Could someone else fix it? I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t even know what I’m feeling. Can anyone save the day here?

But what if the challenge isn’t a detour… What if it’s the very thing that’s guiding me closer to peace and to my service?

The one word I heard loud and clear after meditating the other day and I keep hearing it in my head is: Surrender.

PEACE IS AN INTERNAL JOB

Peace isn’t about escaping the noise or pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about learning how to stay connected to our center – our sacred heart – as we live among the noise of life.

Some days that might look like meditation. Other days, it might look like taking a walk, avoiding the social scroll, limiting the news, praying, calling a friend, or taking a few moments to be still and to simply breathe.

That’s peace. Peace is boundaries, connection, inquiry, and releasing. It’s simplicity, stability, surrender, and stillness.

If your life has felt a little noisy or untethered lately, I hope this finds you as a reminder: Peace is an internal job. What we’re looking for is already within us.

The challenge in front of you — whatever it is — might just be your greatest teacher and your way back to peace.

I will personally hold this as my guiding light as I move forward. I’m so grateful to be walking the spiritual path now more than ever.

I’m grateful for all of you, too.