BEIRUT (Enmaeya News) — September 21, 2025

World Peace Day, also known as the International Day of Peace, is marked every year on September 21. Established by the United Nations in 1981, the day promotes peace among nations and individuals, encouraging reflection on how to resolve conflicts, reduce violence, and build harmony.

This year’s theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” coincides with the UN’s 80th anniversary, founded in the aftermath of World War II. The outlook for peace, however, is troubling: the 2025 Global Risks Report ranks conflict within and between states as the world’s top threat, up from eighth place last year.

In 2001, the UN General Assembly also designated it as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. Yet, nearly a quarter century, as the world observes Peace Day, wars and genocides in Ukraine and Gaza rage on, underscoring the painful gap between the day’s aspiration and today’s reality.

From Lebanon: Mindfulness as a Path to Peace

David Matta, founder and president of the Lebanese Association of Mindfulness and a Mindfulness Instructor at the American University of Beirut (AUB), emphasized that while mindfulness has the potential to transform communities, awareness of its benefits remains limited in Lebanon.

“We still need to do a lot to make people aware,” Matta said, noting that mindfulness takes many forms. “There are different definitions and different ways for mindfulness. There are also multiple programs. For example, in Lebanon, there is the Lebanese Association of Mindfulness.”

Studies have shown that mindfulness can play a positive role in both education and personal well-being, Matta explained. “It brings nourishment, self-regulation, and build better relationships,” he said. Research also highlights its effectiveness in schools and universities, where it supports healthier learning environments.

Mindfulness, however, is not solely an individual pursuit. “It is not a solitary practice, it is also about groups that bring solidarity,” Matta said.

Despite the proven benefits, integrating mindfulness into Lebanese culture remains a challenge. “We still need to do a lot of work to integrate mindfulness into our culture,” Matta said.

Practicing Peace Amid Pressure

Dana Abou Zeki, Corporate Mindfulness Coach and Meditation Teacher, spoke about mindfulness as a practical tool for everyday life, particularly in high-stress environments like Lebanon.

“Mindfulness is a practice. It’s a way of life. It’s easy to take a session, but if we don’t practice it on a daily basis, if we do not take charge of our lives and our mind, it’s very hard to face challenges,” she said.

When asked about the current challenges in the region, Abou Zeki reflected on the constant stress and external pressures many face. “In Lebanon, we get attacked all the time. You’re constantly being challenged. People can be very good, but all of them are angry, all of them are challenged in different ways,” she said.

For Abou Zeki, mindfulness strengthens both mind and heart. “It’s basically mind training. But at the same time, it is also a heart training. Because one of the pillars of mindfulness is actually compassion. So, we work a lot on being able to connect to others,” she explained.

She described practical ways to cultivate mindfulness during a busy day, including the “stop technique,” which encourages individuals to pause, take a breath, and observe their internal state before reacting.

“When you notice that you’re too anxious and too stressed, you’re not going to continue doing what you’re doing. Because if you do that, you’re going to end up reacting,” Abou Zeki said.

Abou Zeki also highlighted the link between mindfulness and peace. “Take a breath, take a pause, close your eyes, connect to your heart, and just spread peace, be kindness, be compassion, and just spread it around,” she said. “It all starts from within. Once you change yourself, you change the world around you — one breath at a time.”

Lebanon’s Lesson: Peace Starts Within

Lebanon’s ongoing political, economic, and social challenges make World Peace Day especially meaningful. For both experts, mindfulness offers more than personal calm: it is a way to cultivate peace, resilience, and stronger communities.

In a country facing daily challenges, mindfulness offers not just inner calm but a collective path to resilience and peace.