Peace Begins With Me
   Ideas and Inspiration
May 2008
Issue #6
Greetings!

This month I share my struggle when I was invited to become a regular contributor to the local media. I am often critcal of mass media and wondered if my involvement would make me complicit in the disservice sometimes done by media.

The second message explores the question, "Why People Suffer". I examined my own source of suffering and found answers that might benefit you on your journey toward peace and joy.

I hope you find value in these ideas and stories and experience an abundance of peace.

Ted
 
The Responsibility of Media
Message from 'Good Night and Good Luck'
Ted head shot
Two years ago Richard Dal Monte, editor of the Tri City News, invited me to become a regular contributor to The News. I experienced many thoughts and emotions in considering how to respond to Mr. Dal Monte's request.

One response was delight in being offered the opportunity to contribute to the collective consciousness of the community. I believe the media serves a critical role in forming and deepening the understanding and attitudes of a community.

A second response was one of disbelief. I thought it somewhat ironic that I was being asked to participate as a member of the media. I have not been very complimentary of the media, whether print, radio, or television. I am of the opinion that much of the media today does a grave disservice to the community by raising issues out of proportion to their true significance, by heightening fear and anxiety, by creating divisions between aspects of community
and thus creating polarities that negate the underlying unity between people, and by over simplifying issues.

I wondered, if I accepted Mr. Dal Monte's invitation, would I become complicit in this disservice in some way?

Then on a flight to Bangkok I viewed the in-flight movie, "Good Night and Good Luck". This is a documentary style film that captured the courage and vision of Edward R. Murrow. Edward Murrow was the news director for CBS television during the McCarthy era in the United States. Murrow distinguished himself by using television to thoughtfully, respectfully, and courageously challenge Senator McCarthy during a time when many were intimidated into silence by the McCarthy investigation.

The film opened with Murrow being honoured by the Television Broadcasters Association of America for his role in giving America back its voice. In his response to their tribute Murrow challenged his media colleagues to become "relevant". He was of the opinion that the media, even then, had degenerated into focusing solely on entertaining and simplifying, rather than using their power to raise the community to a higher standard of collective living.

Murrow's message impacted me. As a consequence I decided to accept Mr. Dal Monte's offer. I decided to use this as an opportunity to share ideas in a way that might facilitate reflection rather than reaction, to use this invitation to deepen our collective understanding, both mine and the reader's, of current issues and affairs, and to express the hopes, dreams, and values of my neighbours.

It is my hope that I have assisted in some small way to transcend the tendency to divide citizens into 'us' and 'them', 'for' and 'against', 'right' and 'wrong'.
Sam Sullivan, the Mayor of Vancouver, when asked his opinion on a contentious civic matter replied, 'The perception is that the decision is between the right and wrong answer on this matter. In truth there is no right or wrong answer, only different perspectives on what is important.'

I desire to be an agent who helps to illuminate what is important, someone who unites a community around shared values and ideals, and a person who invites and creates opportunities for reflection and dialogue. I hope to raise more questions than answers, to create more curiousity than certainty, and more discussion and debate than simplicity. I'm grateful for this opportunity to participate in our growing consciousness of our community and hope I serve us all well.

Why People Suffer
The Impact of the Imagination
Most people suffer. I witness this suffering regularly in my work as a psychotherapist. What may surprise you is the source of their suffering. Most people think the source of their suffering is someone or something out there in the world - the behaviour of family or colleagues, or the unfortunate events of life. Yet the cause of suffering is from within. Suffering is a result of the stories people tell themselves.

Research reveals that the average person thinks nine times as many negative thoughts as positive thoughts; tells themselves nine times as many negative stories as positive stories. Research also tells us the human body does not distinguish between a real event and an imagined event. Therefore, when we tell ourselves a negative story or think a negative thought, our bodies respond as if these imaginings are real. Medical researchers have discovered that many of us think ourselves sick.

"I've had a very difficult life.
Fortunately, most of it didn't happen."
Mark Twain

What does this mean for us? It means we need to be careful with the kind of stories we tell ourselves. We need to be vigilant in monitoring the kind of thoughts we imagine and the images we expose ourselves to. Television, radio, and newspapers have a profound impact on us. We should treat them with the same degree of caution we would any powerful or toxic substance.

When confronted with life's challenges, it is important to consider the various possibilities in order to develop appropriate responses. However, if one becomes immersed in their negative imaginings, they will suffer greatly because of these imaginings. I've learned we can manage life. What we can't manage is our imagination about what might happen because our imaginations don't actually exist.

To experience peace and joy at home and at work it is important to understand the impact of our imagination on our day-to-day experience. If we want to be happy and healthy we need to take responsibility for the stories we tell ourselves and allow to be told to us.

Use your imagination constructively and creatively. Imagine the kind of outcomes you would like to occur. See in your mind's eye what success looks and feels like. One of the core messages contained in 'The Secret' was the tremendous power of the imagination. Einstein understood the importance of imagination. He declared, "Imagination is more important than knowledge". We can move from fear and anger to peace and joy simply by using our imagination positively. Our imagination is a powerful tool. Use it with care.

Peace Begins With Me
New DVD Now Available
book cover
On January 24, 2008 I presented the message of Peace Begins With Me to a live audience at the Vancity Theatre in Vancouver, B.C.

This 1.5 hour message was recorded in high definition on DVD. It is now available for sale. You can  purchase  copies of Peace Begins With Me - Making Peace With Life by visiting my website at - Peace Begins With Me.

Message of Peace
"Peace is a matter of application, rather than theory.
One must not be mistaken into thinking that
he or she is contributing to peace on Earth
just because one is thinking and speaking about peace.

Peace is not something that can be realized through
words and thoughts only. Peace can only be realized
through concrete and sustained cultural and
societal efforts at healing the body, mind, and spirit
of yourself, your neighbours, your society,
and the humanity at large."


Ilchi Lee, author of Peaceology
Thank you for sharing these few moments with me. I hope they offer you inspiration, heart, and hope for the future. Together, we can make our world more peaceful.

If you have questions or comments, I would be delighted to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected]

 Sincerely,
 
Ted Kuntz
Author, Peace Begins With Me
In This Issue
The Responsibility of Media
Why People Suffer
New DVD Available
A Message of Peace

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