Input 3: The Four Components of Personal Peace

Personal peace has four components that are interrelated. This means that they are not
entirely separate from one another. Achieving harmony in one component is related to
the other components. This also means that we cannot attain complete personal peace
until concerns relating to all four areas are addressed.

1. Harmony with the Self. This is related to an individual’s physical, emotional,

psychological and mental health. People feel at peace when they are physically healthy
and well — when their basic needs are met, when they are able to sleep soundly and
when they have had physical exercise. This, of course, is related to financial stability,
as one’s ability to meet his basic needs is dependent upon one’s economic status.
Emotional, psychological and mental health pertains to a sense of well-being and
happiness. It is when a person harbors no worries, fears and hatred in one’s heart,
feels safe and secure, is confident of oneself, feels accepted and valued by others, is
able to accomplish one’s plans, and has a clear conscience. This translates to a feeling
of calmness and relaxation, and allows a person to be comfortable with and by himself.

2. Harmony with Others. To the Filipino, there is no Other. Everyone is potentially

kapwa— one with whom one has a shared identity. This is why this particular
component is very salient to Filipinos. The family, co-workers, neighbors, friends and
fellow countrymen all figure in a Filipino’s sense personal peace. One’s own peace is
very much tied to the peace of one’s kapwa. When one is with one’s family, when the
family is together, safe, healthy, cooperative, understanding and loving, there is peace.
When one feels that one is able to provide and serve one’s family, and that the family
is, in turn, supportive of one’s endeavors, there is peace. Peace can also be attained
by sharing one’s talents to others, making another person happy, and helping others.
At work, this is expressed in one’s commitment to fulfill one’s responsibilities, and not
only to complete one’s given obligations but to do them well. Among friends, co-
workers and neighbors, there is peace to be found when they are contented and happy,
and when there is respect and understanding among them. It is when one has not
inflicted pain of any kind to any one, when even the unlovable is loved, when there is
reconciliation and forgiveness, and when one has done something good for others.
The contentment and happiness of society is recognized to be connected to social and
political realities. It can only be achieved when there is economic progress, when there
is no war, no discrimination and oppression, and when people work together as one
country, and as citizens of one world. In Mindanao, particularly important is the
harmony between Christians and Muslims, and stopping militarization.

3. Harmony with Nature. This particular component is often overlooked. People do not
consciously think of their relationship with nature as having an effect on their personal
peace. However, it is evident that a peaceful and healthy environment is crucial to our
sense of harmony and peace. Violence on the environment, in the form of pollution,
excessive logging, fishing and mining, etc., also transmits violence unto human beings
through illness, natural disasters, disruption or destruction of livelihood, and poorer
living environments. One cannot have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction
 when one is apathetic to the destruction of the environment, or when villagers fall ill
because of the pollution of rivers from one’s mining operations. If people continue to
live out of harmony with nature, the world will turn into an environment too harsh for
human beings to live in. The Filipino need only rekindle his ancestor’s respect for all
creations and to once again learn to treat them as brothers and sisters in order to
restore his harmonious relationship with nature.

4. Harmony with God. Being a strongly religious culture, a strong relationship with the
Creator is essential to the Filipino’s sense of peace. Many perceive that there can be
peace despite difficult and worrisome circumstances when one is in the presence of
God. Being able to talk to God through prayer, to confide one’s troubles and to give
thanks for one’s blessings can grant strength and peace to a person. Thus, the church
or mosque, as a holy place of worship where one can commune with God and with
other brothers and sisters in the faith, is a place where one can take refuge from a
conflict-filled world and find peace. For many people, harmony with God is the
foundation of peace, as God is love, and it is love and compassion which will bring us
to a better relationship with ourselves, others and the environment. It also gives people
the strength and hope to continue striving for personal peace throughout life, although
this can never be achieved completely and perfectly. The four components of personal
peace illustrate that one’s sense of peace is not detached from that of others and the
rest of the world. Peace begins with oneself, but must be extended to and include
others, and should be founded basically on love and respect for all creatures and
human beings. Achieving personal peace is a difficult task, but it can be made easier
when one works together with others.