Harmony

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The word `harmony’ denotes a state of existence where things operate together and are shared peacefully, without discord. It can be a mood, an emotional environment or physical wellbeing, a perfect poem, nature in motion. This seems to suggest that a sameness has to exist. Can there be harmony where there is difference? Yes, there can, if all parties agree to mutual acceptance of these differences. Just as the notes of a song or melody are various but can come together in a beautiful arrangement, all that’s required for harmony is synchronicity, concensus and fluidity. Let’s firstly look at personal harmony then explore the importance of harmony with others. Harmony with self has mostly to do with spiritual nourishment which may come from religious beliefs and practices, meditation, prayer of all kinds and communion with things in nature and the universe. Put simply, it’s feeling good within and around oneself. Harmony comes from balance and order, yet not control. It is the opposite of chaos and confusion, yet it allows for flow and movement. I think of the word `freedom’ when I examine ideas about harmony for there can be no harmony ever in restriction or suppression. Other things that take us away from harmony are anger, hatred, aggression, fear and intolerance. Silence possibly creates the ultimate harmony but it is not necessary for harmony to exist in silence for loud, happy things too can be harmonious, such as music, dance, conversation, demonstration, children, laughter, tears. Life is sometimes messy and if we seek harmony only in perfection, it will forever remain elusive. We could instead look for harmonious moments, hours and days, relish the quiet times and the boisterousones, reach for inner rhythms when external life feels discordant. Find things you love doing and feel the harmony in these activities, pleasures, chores or deeds. To be in harmony with others is more difficult than the challenge of finding your own peace because we cannot regulate another person’s reality or even fully understand it. Therefore, we’re operating blind to a large extent. In this, we are all amateurs and all failures. That’s why there’s so much hostility and violence and crime in our world. Without harmony, it’s a jungle full of screaming predators and hostile forces. Everyone appears to be the enemy. Focus on similarities rather than differences, cohesion rather than division. The key to global as well as nuclear harmony is tolerance - of differences, of mistakes, of foibles and weaknesses, most especially our own. Think of the immediate positive effect if all judgement were to be removed from our arsenal of human behaviours. Straightaway, a large amount of personal stress would be removed. Communication would flow, weapons of all kinds could be put down and of course, the glue of all harmony, love, would be engendered. So, what does and doesn’t constitute harmony? Harmony isn’t negative thinking, controlling others or being inflexible; it is balance, peace, freedom, acceptance and most of all, love. Be the music in your life and you will feel harmony naturally increase around you, perhaps a small stream at first but soon a gushing river that will take you in its wake to a calm and quiet place where you’ve been all along. Resource Box