Gaining Inner Peace

Gaining Inner Peace

Inner peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy (homeostasis) and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Inner peace is generally associated with bliss, happiness and contentment. Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress.

Imagine if day to day you could live like that? Life would certainly be much easier wouldn’t it? Since it is possible to achieve inner peace, why is it more people aren’t looking to obtain it? Simply, most believe they are incapable of finding it or deserving of it. Note the above definition doesn’t state, “With inner peace you will never face another stressor or problematic circumstance”. It does, however, state you can be free from the effects of them. Ironically, the time we crave inner peace the most is when our circumstances peak at their very worse. Unfortunately, we find ourselves getting caught up in the stress, anxiety, and worry as a result of our circumstances. We tend to go into a state of mental paralysis and find it difficult to climb out from the exhausting emotional repercussions.

If inner peace is something you are searching for, below is a list of ways that may assist you in finding your own inner peace. Understand each person’s journey varies and is based on their individual needs and how much they are willing to invest. There is no algorithm or ordered steps in which you must follow; however, you must decide you want it, and are ready and willing to receive it.

Gratitude ~ Become appreciative of all you have already been given. Only focus on these gifts and remove your focus from what others have or what you wish you had. Each morning as you rise, begin your day by stating what you are grateful for that’s in your life. Each night before sleep, state what made you grateful from that day.

Love yourself ~ Make time for yourself EVERY day for a minimum of 15 minutes doing something you love to do, that is just for you. It can be anything from a bath to a hobby you enjoy. Mix it up and choose different ways to achieve this. Make it fun! You are not spoiling yourself; you are simply taking care of yourself! Some people treat this as an option within their day and should be making it a priority.

Let go of control ~ For many people, this is one of the hardest things to do! We tend to attempt to control things in which we have no control of. We even try to control other people’s behaviors and actions. We only have true control over ourselves and our responses. The rest is completely out of our control. When we exert control, the outcome leads to more frustration, anger, and exhaustion. STOP! Expend your energy on what you can control within your circumstance, even if it is only acceptance. Acceptance is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength. As we move further away from control and closer towards acceptance, our perception changes and we are exposed to a completely different view of our circumstances.

Give to others ~ Spend some time to giving and helping others. Volunteer your time, donate to a charity, help a stranger, or simply say a prayer for someone. Helping others in need is a great way to redirect your focus off your personal life’s demands and events. It’s possible that it may open your eyes to discover your situation may not be as bad as you once thought. Many people in the world are facing difficult times, we need to be helping each other, not ignoring or hurting each other. Paying it forward is very real, what you give comes back to you! Be certain what you are giving is the same as you would like in return.

Live in the present moment ~ Most times we are either reflecting back on our past or projecting forward about our future. Neither of those allows you to enjoy the present. The past cannot be rewritten or changed. Focusing on “what could have, should have, or would have” done is useless. You have the opportunity to live the way you want to right now. Continue to plan your future but stop wasting your time worrying about it. You had no way of predicting the place you are in today; certainly you will not be able to predict it tomorrow. Life is ever changing, enjoy the “right now”!

Being in the right place at the right time ~ Trust that you are right where you need to be in life this very moment. Every experience we have is an opportunity for learning and growth. What you learn along the way will benefit you at some point in your life. Look for the lesson, you will eventually find it; everything happens for a reason.

Meditate ~ Have you ever wanted to shut off the voice in your head that never stops chattering? How about if you could acknowledge negative emotions but not allow them to have an effect on you? Did you know how many benefits there are to meditation? Mediation has many benefits including improving your health by lowering blood pressure, increasing serotonin levels to enhance your mood, reducing stress, and increasing synchronicity and balance in your life.

Keep your faith ~ Hold very closely to your faith. Faith conquers fear and keeps hope alive, leading you exactly where you need to be. Not to mention, the life of our spirit depends on it.

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.” ~Dalai Lama

May peace reside within you,