• Peaceful music, if desired, and audio player

• If you are using music, cue the music and test your equipment beforehand.

Youth reflect on personal peace.

Invite participants to get comfortable and in the mood for a guided meditation. If you plan to use music, set the volume to low and start it as soon as everyone is comfortable.

Relax your body. Let go of all tension. Close your eyes, if you wish. Take in a deep breath and slowly release it. Do this again. Take another breath and, as you release it, feel the breath flowing through your body-through your arms, torso, legs, your head. Take another deep breath.

Let your memory take you to a time you felt at peace. Hold this peaceful memory for a while. (Pause) What help bring about this peace? What were your surroundings? Were you alone or with others? How long did the peaceful feeling last? When you bring up the memory, can you still feel the peace?

Was there ever a time you did not feel at peace but you were able to attain a peaceful state? What helped you find peace? If there was never a time like this, do you think returning to your peaceful memory would help you regain peace? What does your peaceful memory teach you about your personal peace?

Think of the most peaceful community you have known. What kept this community peaceful? Was the peace ever shaken by discord and conflict? How did the community deal with the disruption? Did it return to a peaceful state afterwards? What did this community teach you about communal peace?

Now let go of the memories, but see if you can keep the peaceful feeling. When you are ready, take a deep breath, open your eyes, and join us back in the room.

Stop the music and ask if anyone would like to share any thoughts they had during the meditation. Ask if anyone meditates on a regular basis. Meditation is a common spiritual practice, used by practitioners of many different faiths. Is there a connection between meditation and personal peace?