Are you feeling restless? Do you feel unhappy? Are you under great stress? Do you have trouble sleeping at night? If you find yourself in these situations, these are all signs that you lack inner peace. Having peace of mind is very important especially in times of distress. Although it is perfectly human to feel worried or anxious at times, what is important is that you don’t let it take over your life. It’s okay to not be okay but to not be okay for a long time is already a cause of concern. So, here are tips to finding your inner peace:
Stress is a choice. So is inner peace.
– Lewis Howes
What Is Inner Peace
Inner peace is a state of calmness within you. It is so important in an individual’s pursuit of happiness and wellness that even the Dalai Lama believes that the attainment of world peace begins with inner peace.
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
– Dalai Lama
Finding Your Inner Peace
But how to find it? What can we do to achieve a state of calmness within us in a world full of chaos? Well, the good news is that we don’t really need to pack our bags and be a hermit in the mountains. Although having that much needed retreat sounds awesome, it’s not really a requirement. Rather than having that one big escape away from it all; there are actually little things that we can do to achieve peace within us. It is a matter of integrating some small habits into our lives.
1. Proper Breathing
Sounds so simple but how many of us breathe properly? Proper breathing entails that your body, especially your neck and shoulders are relaxed. Your breathing should be controlled and steady. And it should go all the way down to your lungs. It is deep breathing as opposed to shallow breathing. During inhalation, the stomach should be expanding. And during exhalation, the stomach should be contracting; not the other way around.
In any kind of meditation, deep breathing has always been the first step to put yourself in a state of mindfulness.
2. Meditation
Through meditation, you can achieve calmness of the mind. A stress free state of mind can help you calm down and achieve balance in your life. Meditation helps you become aware of your being, of every moment of your existence. It will train you to detach yourself from situations. In the process, it will help detoxify the toxins and negative emotions that you have in your system.
3. Be Mindful
Mindfulness is the art of being in the now. It is learning to let go of the past and stop worrying about the future. No, it will not make the chaos go away but it will train you to refocus your mind to the present moment and enjoy the little things in life.
4. Spend Time in Nature
Being in natural surroundings improves not just your mental health but also your physical health as well. Nature does not necessarily mean going trekking on some mountain. You can actually just take some time to sit in your garden or your local park. You can even just sit under a big tree. If it is not possible, then indoor gardening will do.
5. Practice Gratitude
Life is all about energy. When you are stressed, you are in negative energy or vibration. If you remain in this state for so long, you will be attracting more negative situations and even negative people in your life. The best way to shift your energy is to practice gratitude. Instead of your pain, you are shifting your focus on all the blessings that you have in your life right now. Remember that what you focus on expands. Being grateful will change your energy from the negative to the positive. And because of this, you will be attracting positive things in your life.