Who doesn’t want peace these crazy days–hey, I’ll take any peace I can find during these chaotic times–but how? For me another way of thinking of inner peace would be serenity. And I do love that word and the prayer that goes with it: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Given those wise words–we are challenged to decipher what we have control over and what we do not–and basically it comes down to only having control of our inner peace or serenity. That certainly doesn’t preclude us from holding the world’s challenges with love and peace in our prayers and hearts, however, beyond that, how can we work on our serenity?
In search of some helpful and encouraging words, I found an article “Finding Inner Peace During Chaotic Times” where the writer shares some of the most proven effective habits and tips on finding that not-so-illusive inner peace.
Unresolved Issues–either personal or professional, these can give us a great deal of burden, heavy enough to prevent us from finding true peace. Putting things off can create what’s called “silent stress” which can present as headaches or other pains, and later bite us in the shorts further. So let’s not forget to resolve these issues.
Maintaining Balance and Equanimity (calm)–originates from the Buddhist philosophy of finding the balance between happiness and obsession. One significant example of this is the extreme attachment to an object, a feeling, a person, an experience, and more. Scientifically speaking, the human mind can become fixed on a desire, to the point where extreme pleasure can flood the brain with dopamine in the same way that drugs and alcohol trigger the release of dopamine. We may initially think that an object or a person gives us happiness, but this feeling of bliss may also simply turn out to be an unhealthy addiction. (If it affects someone else negatively, that’s a clue that we’re dealing with an unhealthy issue.)
Practice Gratitude–every day, everywhere we go. A simple “thank you” can make everyone’s day better. Many scientists believe that giving is good for our health (whether monetary or emotionally) because it actually releases endorphins that make us happier–more positive thoughts about life. Moreover, when we keep a gratitude journal it teaches our mind to focus more on happiness and well-being, and less on fear and negative thoughts.
Disconnect to Reconnect–work, technology, social media, the news and yes,sometimes people, can cause stress and mental exhaustion (oops, did I write that out loud). Let’s reconnect with ourselves–disconnecting from our work and mobile gadgets and discover that finding genuine happiness comes from the peaceful and grounding moments we have with our deeper self. Listen to what our soul needs, savor the moment, focusing on personal growth and healing. We can also disconnect by spending time with good friends or family–recharging our soul.
Appreciate Nature–when we go through phases of anger or anxiety, simply enjoying nature can teach us how to find inner peace. We don’t have to go to a park or the mountainside to appreciate nature. Even in the middle of the city, we can still be with nature by taking a walk outside just before sunrise when the only sounds are the birds and the rustling of leaves. Or bringing a potted flower or plant inside our home.
Practicing Mindful Meditation–can help people feel calmer and more grounded despite the chaos of the world. It can also act as an excellent reminder that even though life can be tough and work can get busy, we can always take a quiet moment and experience inner peace.
Some meditation practices include rhythmic breathing exercises that target specific thoughts or issues. For example, slow breathing is known to not only diminish negative self-talk and anxiety but also increases focus, boosts the immune system over time, strengthens the mind, and releases good hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin. With meditation, we take ourselves a step further in finding inner peace and a healthy mind.
Live in the Present–certain things in life are not going to change no matter how hard we blame ourselves or other people. If we spend time thinking about the past and stress-eating we will only cloud our mind with negative thoughts. Being mindful of the present and letting go of all the what-ifs will help us focus on the more important things. By embracing our truth and decluttering our mind, we will be able to achieve inner peace and be open to what the future has in store. Pets are wonderful present therapy, too!
These are just a few options we have, however, there are many more–lets find what fills our soul. Progress, not perfection Warriors!
Colvid 19 Humor: Can we uninstall 2020 & install it again? This version still has a virus!