Peace Practice: Setting Intentions That Create Peace
As a new year begins, many of us feel a quiet longing for peace; in our homes, communities, and in the world around us. Yet peace rarely arrives by accident. It is cultivated through intention, repeated daily in small, faithful acts of love and service.
In her memoir, Holy Mother Han, the Mother of Peace, describes a daily practice that has guided her life of service and peacebuilding. She writes:
“I open my eyes at daybreak and begin each day with prayer and meditation. I think very carefully about what I will do for whom, and then I act on that.”
This simple discipline reveals a profound truth: peace is not passive. It is created through conscious intention followed by action. Each day begins not with the question, “What will I accomplish?” but rather, “Who will I live for today?”
This practice reflects a core principle of the Universal Peace Federation: lasting peace begins with individuals who live for the sake of others. When our intentions are rooted in service, our daily choices naturally align with compassion, moral responsibility, and mutual respect. Peace becomes something we practice, not merely something we hope for.
Intention setting in this way transforms even ordinary moments. A conversation becomes an opportunity to listen. A task becomes an offering. A challenge becomes a chance to respond with grace. Over time, these small acts accumulate, shaping peaceful families, communities, and societies.
In today’s world of conflict and division, this practice feels especially urgent. Even as Holy Mother Han currently faces unjust detention in South Korea, her example continues to speak clearly. Her life reminds us that peace is sustained not by comfort or circumstance, but by unwavering commitment to love and service, even in the face of hardship.
As you enter the new year, consider adopting this peace practice:
Begin each morning in stillness.
Reflect carefully on whom you can serve.
Then, act on that intention.
When intention and action meet, peace is no longer distant. It begins anew each day; at daybreak, in the heart, and through our choices.