Five Ways To Inner Peace

I think we can all agree that the last few years have been pretty stressful in one way or another. And most of us hope the start of a new year would miraculously fix everything. But the changing of one year to the next doesn't just change everything that was building up for a while.

Sometimes those big things take time to go away.

However, every day, every new minute that passes is an opportunity for positive change. We cannot change what is going on around us, but we can change how we react to it.

One of the most difficult things we can do as human beings is control our thoughts and our reactions to the stressors in our life. It isn't easy. And it doesn't come overnight. And you will fall off the inner peace wagon at times.

The important thing is persistence. Don't give up. Choose to always strive for peace. And there are five ways to do this.

Accept That You Cannot Control Everything

When we hold onto expectations of how someone or something will be, we lose our connection to trusting the universe. We can put all the good juju out there, create the most powerful spell ever, but in the end, we have to accept that what happens, happens. And then we go from there.

We have to accept that we cannot control what other people do. If we focus so much on the outcome, we lose enjoying the journey. 

Even at the end of the most difficult situations in your life, you are missing out on the small moments of joy that spring up like a flower springing up between the cracks in the sidewalk. There is beauty even among the pain.

Let Go And Live

Whatever horrible situation you are going through, please don't say, “I will be happy when...” Be happy now. Don't stop living until whatever the bad situation you are going through is over. If you do that, you will never find peace. Long term, sustainable peace is a beautiful goal and not the most easily attainable.

But what you need to strive for in the beginning is moments of peace. Tranquil moments of pure joy, pure beauty, pure bliss. 

Stop for a moment and enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Don't think, “I will enjoy it when this is over.” Stop. And enjoy it now. It will not be the same sunrise or sunset then.

And enjoying that moment of beauty may be just what you need. Live now. Don't wait.

Focus On What You Can Control

So while we have to accept that there are things we cannot control, we can focus on what we can control. That could be something like your reaction to the situation. Or maybe something as simple as deciding what you will have for dinner.

It's easy to get into a tailspin thinking that just because you can't control one thing in your life that you cannot control everything. That is simply not true. You are the commander of the ship in your life. You make choices every day that either support what you want or don't want.

Take back some control in your life when you feel like life is out of control will help you find the peace you so much crave and deserve. Start simple. Control what you wear. You can't control the weather. So even if it is a cold, snowy day, which may not be your favorite thing, you can control what you wear. You can control whether you find the beauty in it.

Find Joy

Joy comes from so many different things in life. So often we think that joy has to come from bigger things. Or material things. Joy can come from finding peace in your life. They work together: joy and peace. Peace brings joy. Joy brings peace.

What brings you joy? What hobbies have you cast aside because you got so busy living (or rather surviving) that you put it aside for another day. Why wait? Stop the, “I will do this when I have time.” Make time now. You deserve to do things that bring you joy in life.

Take some time and think about the things you enjoyed. It may bring you back to a simpler time in life. Maybe when you were a child and weren't riddled with the responsibilities of an adult's worry.

Did you like riding a bike? Collecting seashells? Watching the stars at night?

Joy doesn't have to come from something monstrously big. Joy comes from the moments in life that put a smile on your face without you realizing it.

Seek Solitude

People cannot give you what you cannot give to yourself. That's why it's important to take time to be alone.

If you are stressed you may put expectations on how other people will react and help you. That can further stress you out. You cannot expect others to behave or do things a certain way. We are all in control of our own behavior.

On the road to peace, it's important to take time in solitude. Listen to the inner voice within you. That voice is the real you. It is the you that knows what is best for you. It is the you that you can truly be yourself around. Unfiltered.

Take time in solitude. Whether that means taking a walk in nature or hiding in the bathroom with the door closed and headphones on because that is the only solitude you get in a busy home. It's not where you can find it, but only that you take the time to find solitude.

Journal, go in nature and scream. Close your eyes. Talk to whatever spiritual force you connect with. Just take some time away.

Finding peace seems like something that should be easy, but in our modern, hectic world it often requires effort. That effort is important. You are important. Your inner peace is important.