Chasing Peace

Tom Rosshirt was like millions of people chasing peace. He believed he could get it through performance, perseverance, and hard work - attacking both his career and meditation practices with a strict dedication. Instead of peace, his achievements brought anxiety, depression, and a merciless perfectionism that left him overwhelmed and wanting out. He spent his time maneuvering around a list of triggers that grew longer by the day and was guided by his near desperate search for relief. Then, right after another dead-end session with a psychiatrist, Tom found the emerging science of neuroplasticity, which provided a new understanding of how the mind affects the brain and body. Through a support group of individuals equally exhausted by their developed hypervigilance, and following months of research and reframing, Tom started to see his breakdown as a chance for a breakthrough. He realized every thought about who we are supposed to be is a barrier to peace. And neuroplasticity can help us starve the thoughts that create the self-image that causes the suffering. It marks the shift from 'getting what I want' to 'wanting what I get.' The first is chasing peace; the second is finding it. Chasing Peace is a personal journey that can inspire anyone who is tired of chasing peace and wants to find happiness in who they really are.