I want to talk about peace. To be more specific…Inner peace. It’s something that I’ve been struggling with the past two weeks.
I know we all feel stress, its unavoidable in life. Especially now during this crazy pandemic time. I wake up and try to think positive and be grateful for my life. But I don’t always get there. Being at home day in and day out with really zero human interaction is starting to get to me. I often wonder what my purpose in life is. Am I wasting my life? Should I be doing something different? Am I living my purpose? Am I doing what I should be doing with this life of mine? Am I making a difference?
When you ready my book; The Sensitive One, you will know why I struggle with inner peace. Peace was always followed by chaos in my childhood. I have to remind myself often…that’s in the past. I learned how to obtain inner peace on my own… the hard way. My body was basically telling me through panic attacks that I needed to do something. I needed to find inner peace or else I was going to go crazy. I was in my early thirties when I found myself. It would then take many years to obtain inner peace. Like I said, I still struggle with it. I will always learning ways to continually find my inner peace and keep it.
I now know that my lasting happiness lies in keeping my mind, body, and soul in alignment.
This mantra helps me when my inner peace drifts away. I even put this on a sticky not and leave it on my bathroom mirror so it’s one of the first things I see in the morning.
I am strong
I am safe
I am loved
I live in peace
What is Inner Peace?
Inner Peace emanates from the soul and is the sacred inner environment in which true happiness unfolds. The pursuit of inner peace is a universal goal, but it seems like most of us lose sight of its numerous benefits. In today’s world of high pressure and unpredictability, the need for inner peace has never been greater. Inner peace allows us to confront life with an open heart and mind, helps us keep track of what is important to us and eliminate negative influence. Inner Peace is not something you can buy. It is something we must learn to find within ourselves. Inner peace is happiness, contentment and bliss, but these are temporary states; finding the path of inner peace helps us to navigate life, through the turbulent waters of uncertainty, suffering and sadness.
What does Inner peace feel like?
Mine is a feeling of complete serenity. It’s a feeling of calm that everything is alight with my world. I believe that there is a higher power that actually is in charge of things. I am not. I remind myself that I have no control what is going to happen, when, where, or how.
The one place where I truly find my inner peace is when I am lying or sitting on my yoga mat and just listening to myself breath. In and out… in and out. I become aware of something other than myself. I feel like Life is Ok. It’s the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and soul when I feel whole.
I feel inner peace when I am no longer judging others and trying to figure out their actions. I need to focus on only saying things that are helpful, useful and kind.
I read this recently and believe it to be true:
Most people are like butterflies, flitting aimlessly. They never seem to really get anywhere or to stop for more than a moment before they are attracted by some new diversion. While the bee works and prepares for hard times. But the butterfly lives only for today. When winter comes, the butterfly is gone, while the bee has stored up food to live on. We must learn to gather and store the honey of Gods peace and power.
Whether you believe this or not…
We have come on earth to entertain and to be entertained. This is why life should be a combination of both meditation and activity. If you lose your inner balance, that is just the time when you’re vulnerable to inwardly suffering. Affirm our minds by saying, “No matter what experiences come, they cannot touch me. I am always happy.”
I like this analogy
If you continue to write checks without depositing anything in your bank account, you will run out of money. So, it is with your life account, you will run out of strength, calmness, and happiness. You will become bankrupt--emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
How to Obtain Inner Peace
· Belief in a power greater than yourself
· Stop being critical of yourself- embrace who you are
· Take away criticism in your life
· Meditate
· Practice forgiveness
· Schedule time for yourself
· Be honest
· Take responsibility for your actions
· Have an open heart and mind
· Stay away from things that drain you
· Show compassion for yourself and others
Some Thoughts:
Inner peace is the path towards happiness. Having inner peace is what allows us to enjoy and appreciate the present, regardless of whether it’s good or bad.
Forget the past. It is gone! Forget the future! it is beyond your reach! Control the present! Live your best life now!
Never be afraid of anything. Fear is a form of nervousness. As long as you’re not dead, you are alive; so why would you fear? And once you are dead it is all over and you cannot remember; so why worry.
Focus your attention within. You will feel a new power, a new strength, a new peace…in mind, body, and spirit.
The one thing that will never leave you is the joy of your soul.
Make your home a place of peace.
( Some excerpts taken from my book “Inner Peace” by Paramahansa Yogananda)
Comments