Where God, Spirit, Love, Consciousness and the Universe meet: The Common Spiritual Language of Peace

By Dr. Katie Eastman and Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Some people call it God. Others might say Allah, Energy, Divine, Brahman, Consciousness, Oneness, Supreme Being, Higher Power, Light, Source, Spirit, the Universe, or simply Love. Whatever name you choose, most of us are seeking to describe or make sense of the same thing: that quiet, guiding presence that reminds us we’re connected to each other and something greater than ourselves.

In the self-help and spiritual world, language can become tricky. Words that bring one person comfort can make another pull away. But beneath all the labels and traditions, there’s a universal truth: peace begins when we stop arguing over who’s right about the light and start remembering that we all come from it and share it.

One of the most fascinating things about being human is how differently we express the same longing and how beautifully diverse our expressions of faith and reverence can be. Some find comfort in sacred texts, others in prayerful stillness. Some lift their voices in song, some bow their heads in humility, others turn inward through meditation or mindfulness. There are many practices, yet all are reaching toward the same sacred connection, a shared longing for meaning, love, and peace. Some find their peace not through religion or ritual at all, but through creativity, purpose, nature, connection, or service to others.

The words and practices may differ, but the desire is the same: we all want to belong to something meaningful. We want to feel that our lives matter. We want to know that love outlasts loss.

The truth is, peace doesn’t require a single vocabulary. You don’t need to “get the words or the practice right.” You begin the exploration or great understanding of your and others spirituality with an open heart.

That’s why, when we write or coach, we always use inclusive language — not to dilute faith, but to widen the doorway. “God,” "Allah" “Spirit,” “Love,” “Universe,” “Energy,” “Grace” — these words all point to the same sacred mystery that we’re part of, and when we honor the capacity for peace within all of us and we honor one another.

When we talk about peace, we don’t mean a world without noise or challenge. We mean that deep, anchored sense that no matter what’s happening, you are held by something larger and something benevolent, unbreakable, and loving. Whether you find that strength in prayer, meditation, nature, or simple acts of kindness, it’s all part of the same divine rhythm.

In The Peace Guidebook, we often talk about awareness, the willingness to notice what’s happening in you and around you. That awareness is sacred. It’s where faith and presence meet.

Awareness is what allows you to notice when you’re out of alignment, when your thoughts are racing, when your words or actions are coming from fear rather than love. It’s also what allows you to catch yourself before you spiral, breathe, and begin again.

You don’t have to call that awareness “God” for it to be holy. When you pause before reacting, when you choose kindness instead of criticism, when you take a deep breath instead of firing off that angry or grumpy email or text, you’re practicing the presence of peace.

That, in itself, can be called a prayer or sacred gesture, a moment of remembering that peace isn’t only found in temples or churches, but in every breath, every choice, every act of compassion.

Across every religion, culture, and spiritual tradition, love is the thread that ties everything together. Love is the one word no translation can lose.

The Dalai Lama said, “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Buddha taught, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love.”

Hindu sages spoke of Ahimsa—the sacred duty to cause no harm.

Confucius taught that benevolence and respect are the roots of harmony.

And science tells us that compassion literally changes our brain chemistry — it’s wired into who we are.

When we strip away doctrine, ego, and division, we realize that love is the doctrine. It’s the message behind every sacred text, the pulse beneath every heart, the energy that heals and holds the world. You can believe in God and science. You can pray and meditate. You can find divinity in a church, a forest, or while washing the dishes.

What matters is that you find something that brings you back to love and peace.

Because love, in any language, is what connects us all. And when love connects us, peace isn’t just possible. It’s inevitable.

Sometimes spiritual language gets in the way. Someone says “God,” and another person cringes. Someone else says “Universe,” and another rolls their eyes. We get caught up in semantics instead of essence.

But real peace asks us to go deeper than the words. It asks us to listen for the truth beneath the terminology. When someone says, “I believe in God,” they might be saying, “I believe in love and moral order.” When another says, “I trust the Universe,” they might mean, “I have faith in what is unfolding.”

Different words. Same efforts that brings us back to peace.

If we can stop policing language, rules, and structure, and start hearing the intention behind it, we’ll find connection instead of conflict. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the next frontier of peace — learning to listen without labeling.

Grace is a way of living. Grace is what happens when you forgive instead of retaliating, when you stay calm instead of escalating, when you show compassion instead of control.

Grace is what keeps us soft in a hard world.

We often think of grace as invisible hospitality, the inner willingness to welcome people exactly as they are. It’s what turns strangers into friends and moments into miracles.

And grace, like peace, doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from presence. You don’t have to have all the answers to live gracefully. You just have to remember that kindness is always an option.

Believing in peace is beautiful, but practicing peace changes everything.

It means showing up to the hard conversations, the daily responsibilities, the moments when your faith wobbles and your patience runs thin. It’s in the apology you offer, the gratitude you express, the restraint you practice when you could easily lash out.

When you bring peace into your daily choices, you become a living example of what you believe — a walking prayer, a moving meditation, a gentle reminder that the sacred doesn’t live “out there.” It lives in you.

We’ve met people from a variety of backgrounds, such as, pastors, atheists, Buddhists, skeptics, and seekers, and what amazes us is how each of them, in their own way, is searching for peace.

Some find it in service. Some in stillness. Some in science. Some in nature. But every one of them is reaching for the same thing: meaning, belonging, and love.

Peace doesn’t care what you call it. It just asks that you practice it.

You don’t have to agree on theology to live peacefully with one another. You just have to agree that kindness matters.

Take a few moments right now and ask yourself:

• Where do I feel most connected to something greater?

• When do I feel closest to peace?

• Is it in nature, in prayer, in music, in silence?

• What word or phrase feels most authentic to me?

• God, Spirit, Universe, Higher Power, Source, Energy, Light, Allah, Love, Grace, or something else?

Then, instead of worrying about who’s “right,” focus on what brings you home to yourself. That’s your practice. That’s your peace.

If you’ve ever looked up at a sky full of stars, you’ve already felt that pull toward awe and wonder. If you’ve ever cried from gratitude or laughed so hard your soul felt lighter, you’ve experienced it.

That’s connection. That’s spirit. That’s the awe, or Love, or Life, whatever word you choose.

That’s the beauty of this: we don’t have to agree on the definition of the Divine to live divinely. We just have to remember that every time we choose love over fear, presence over distraction, and forgiveness over resentment, we’re participating in the sacred act of peace.

Whether you whisper “God, help me,” or “Universe, guide me,” or simply take a breath and say, “Thank you,” know this: you are seen, supported, and surrounded by something infinitely loving.

One heart. One world. One love.

Pause for a moment and ask yourself:

Where do I feel most connected to something greater?

Write down three ways you can honor that connection this week.

Maybe it’s a quiet walk, a prayer before dinner, a gratitude list, or a call to someone you love. That’s where your peace begins.

Peace is not a competition between beliefs. It’s a collaboration between souls. And the language of peace, whether spoken as Amen, Namaste, or Thank you, is the same everywhere: Love.

About Dr. Katie and Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman are internationally recognized leaders in personal growth, transformation, and peaceful living. Together, they blend science and soul to help individuals, families, and organizations navigate change with courage, compassion, and grace. Their collaborative work — including Percolate: Let Your Best Self Filter Through and The Peace Guidebook — invites readers to rediscover their potential, practice mindful presence, and create peace within themselves and the world around them. With decades of combined experience in psychology, coaching, writing, and leadership, Elizabeth and Katie are united by a single mission: to help humanity heal, grow, and live with greater love and understanding.

It’s time to Percolate Peace!

If this spoke to your heart, consider this your invitation to take the next step from inspiration to action.

We invite you to log in your own Peaceprint at PercolatePeace.com. Each Peaceprint represents one act of peace, one choice of compassion, one person saying, “I choose peace.”

Our collective goal is to reach one million Peaceprints around the world, a living tapestry of kindness, unity, and hope. Your single act matters. When we each leave our Peaceprint, we leave the world better than we found it.

Join us. Add your Peaceprint. Together, we Percolate Peace.

Join us at PercolatePeace.com. Step forward. Be the example. Let’s unite, empower, and transform together. The world doesn’t change by chance. It changes because people choose peace and act on it.