The Irresistible Promise of Inner Peace

Inner Peace… Can You Resist the Enticing Allure of Inner Peace?

Once upon a time I chased the concept of achieving inner peace. It was this irresistible promise of inner peace that marked the beginning of my study of personal growth and self-improvement, and I continue on this journey to this day.

Finding Inner Peace in a Chaotic World

As reported by the Positive Psychology website and other respected sources in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, inner peace can be defined as the following:

“A state of calm, serenity and tranquility of mind that arises due to having no sufferings or mental disturbances such as worry, anxiety, greed, desire, hatred, ill will, delusion and or other tarnishments.”

That might sound unachievable in today’s hectic, stressful, and chaotic world. The key to creating this positive mental and emotional state is to look inside, not out. Here are five practices proven to move you from distractions, chaos, anxiety, and stress towards a calmer, more peaceful state of being.

Embrace Positivity

Do what makes you smile. Keep things simple. Clear the clutter. Remove yourself from people and experiences that make you frown. Express gratitude for the things you enjoy that aren’t distracting and don’t require you to change your focus constantly.

Let the Sun Shine

You can create peace with just 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure daily. The sun’s rays shining on your bare skin trigger the production of vitamin D and other processes that lower stress and increase feelings of happiness. Expose 60% of your skin to sunshine for the best benefits.

Live According to Your Values

What is important to you? Reflect on your most important beliefs. Begin living a life aligned with those beliefs. You enjoy more happiness and fulfillment mentally, emotionally, and even physically when you live according to your values.

Get Grounded, Literally

Grounding is physically connecting to the earth’s natural electric charge. Get your bare feet on the grass or in the dirt. This stabilizes the electrical circuit in your body, which reduces pain, inflammation, and mental and physical stress. You enjoy more natural energy, improved blood flow, and a peaceful mental state.

This creates inner peace by letting your body absorb millions of free electrons, which neutralize damaging free radicals in your body. You are a natural being, so when you physically connect with nature, peace, and focus improve while stress and anxiety are lowered.

Let Go of Past Trauma

Your past is full of wonderful memories. It’s nice to think about them from time to time. When you focus your entire existence on past events, good or bad, you rob yourself of the opportunity to live truly. The past is over, and the future will never exist except in your mind. Let go of past trauma. Face it, take full responsibility, accept it, and move on. Live in “the now” for more positive feelings and emotions.

These five practices lead to a happier emotional place and to the irresistible promise of inner peace. They enhance your autonomy and your ability to dictate your behaviors and actions. That’s a great place to be emotionally and mentally. It leads to peace and happiness in a world that constantly threatens those wonderful states of being.

The Healing Power of Gratitude in Finding Inner Peace

People who consistently practice gratitude see more things to be grateful for. Their eyes are opened to the abundance of positivity in their lives. Call it a law of nature, the act of a deity or greater power, fate, or how life works. The fact is that research shows grateful people are happier and healthier than those who constantly groan and complain about what they don’t have.

Whatever You Focus on Will Expand

Motivational speaker and self-improvement teacher Jim Rohn knew this recipe for creating your reality. One of his core teachings is that people become what they think most of the time. Like it or not, we are in charge of our destiny.

The notion that we become what we think about most underscores the profound influence of our thoughts on our actions and outcomes in life. Our predominant thoughts shape our attitudes, beliefs, and, ultimately, our behaviors. When we consistently focus on positive aspirations, goals, and possibilities, we are more likely to take steps toward achieving them.

This holds true with practicing gratitude as well. Shifting one’s perspective to practice gratitude can be a transformative step towards cultivating peace of mind and happiness. When we consciously focus on appreciating what we have, we develop a heightened awareness of the abundance in our lives, even in the midst of challenges. This shift in mindset allows us to recognize the countless blessings we might have previously taken for granted, from good health and supportive relationships to the simple pleasures of everyday life.

By regularly acknowledging and expressing gratitude for these aspects of our lives, we begin to reshape our thought patterns. Instead of dwelling on what we lack or desire, we redirect our attention to the positive aspects of our existence, fostering a sense of contentment and reducing stress and anxiety.

This practice helps us wake up each morning with a positive mindset, ready to face the day with a smile as we focus on the richness of our experiences and the beauty in the world around us. In doing so, gratitude becomes a powerful tool for not only improving our mental well-being but also enhancing our overall quality of life. Being grateful in every moment will also bring you closer to the irresistible promise of inner peace in your life experience.

Practice Gratitude Daily

Practicing daily gratitude can be as simple as setting aside a few moments each morning to reflect on the things you are thankful for. Begin by keeping a gratitude journal, jotting down three to five things that you appreciate in your life. They can range from small pleasures like a warm cup of coffee to more significant blessings like supportive relationships or personal achievements. This deliberate act of recognition can set a positive tone for your day and help you cultivate a mindset of gratitude over time.

As you move through your day, keep your eyes open for the positive things that happen to you and the wonderful people you have in your life. Acknowledging these moments of joy and the people who bring them into your world can foster a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude, enriching your daily experiences and nurturing your overall well-being.

Commit to a daily gratitude practice for the next 30 days. Watch how your life changes. You will find more peace of mind, mental clarity, and emotional happiness magically appear in your life. Choose gratitude over complaining, and you will be given much more to be grateful for.

The Role of Forgiveness in Cultivating Inner Peace

Some individuals have a misconceived notion of forgiveness, holding onto grudges and cultivating a memory akin to an elephant, where they never forget past injustices or betrayals. However, this perspective misses the true essence of forgiveness, which is rooted in self-love and self-compassion.

Forgiveness doesn’t imply granting permission for others to harm us; instead, it’s a testament to our self-confidence and an act primarily aimed at benefiting ourselves.

Refusing to let go of negative emotions tied to past grievances can be detrimental to one’s well-being, leading to chronic stress, both physically and mentally, and potentially hindering the formation of new relationships. The inability to forgive, particularly in intimate relationships, can erode trust and create a barrier to personal growth, ultimately endangering the future of the relationship itself.

Forgiveness Is about Letting Go

Consider forgiveness as a means to cleanse not only your mind but also your emotions. To let go of the negativity. Take a moment to shift the focus away from the offending party and redirect it towards yourself. Don’t you deserve inner peace and tranquility instead of being ensnared in stress and automatically assuming the worst about others?

Embracing peace, happiness, and forgiveness has a profound impact on your well-being, even influencing your body’s chemistry by triggering the release of hormones that promote a sense of contentment. When you forgive, it’s like looking in a mirror and saying to yourself, “I love you, and you deserve serenity and joy.”

Science suggests that with forgiveness, you are less likely to develop depression. You feel less frustration and anger. Your sleep quality improves, and you live a longer, happier life.

Forgive Even If They Don’t Deserve It

Remember, you’re doing this for yourself, not for someone else. Love yourself enough to forgive others, even if they don’t deserve it. This is not about justice. It’s about moving on and taking your emotions to a more positive place.

How do the following words make you feel: resentment, hostility, revenge, anger? Those aren’t good feelings, are they? Why embrace those feelings when you can give yourself the gift of self-respect, confidence, inner peace of mind, and self-love?

Forgiveness is a choice that’s easily and quickly given. The benefits are just as quick to occur. You have precious little time in this world. Any moment could be your last. Spend your time embracing the positive mental and emotional states that forgiveness provides. Your respect and love for yourself will grow.

The Power of Now: Living in the Moment for Serenity and Inner Peace

Reflecting on some of the happiest times in our lives, we realize that they are now part of our past. However, when we lived those wonderful moments, they were our current experiences. This perspective underscores the ephemeral nature of life’s joys.

Similarly, when we anticipate future events, such as a planned party with friends, we must remember that when the moment arrives, it, too, will become our present experience. This insight encourages us to embrace the present, just as we did during those cherished moments in the past, for it is in the present that we create new memories and find the true essence of life’s beauty and fulfillment.

Take a moment to observe your surroundings at this very instant; this is your current moment in time, and it carries a profound sense of certainty. In the present, you have the clarity to see and experience everything happening around you. Unlike the past and future, living in the present moment offers unparalleled emotional and mental clarity, allowing you to fully engage with the richness of life as it unfolds. Here are a few reasons to spend as much time as possible living in the moment, and keep in mind that the irresistible promise of inner peace is attainable.

With the Future Lies Uncertainty

Serenity and peacefulness, while worthy goals, are difficult for many people to experience because they are too worried about what comes next.

How to pay the bills at months end. What to cook for dinner. The holidays are approaching. An appointment coming up in a few weeks. The uncertainty of the weather during your scheduled vacation. Those seem like insignificant concerns; however, they can be very damaging to your peace of mind.

Constantly focusing on future events or possibilities fills your mind with uncertainty. That is a mental state linked to negative emotions.

Your brain and nervous system love certainty. There is no guessing. They know what to expect. This state of being promotes a healthy hormonal and chemical balance. The result is positive emotions, joy, happiness, fulfillment, and acceptance. Your future is uncertain, and focusing on it frequently leads to a chemical imbalance that causes stress and anxiety. Instead, focus on seeking the irresistible promise of inner peace and happiness.

The Past Is Full of Frustration and Regret

Why did I do that? What was I thinking? I wish I could go back and do things differently. These are thoughts we often have about our past. We are undoubtedly grateful for any wonderful experiences we create, but the human mind loves thinking about regrettable and otherwise negative memories.

It is wise to learn from our mistakes. However, when you spend your waking moments dwelling on the past, you are wasting those current moments in time. This is a stressful and pointless practice.

The most successful life is worthless without joy and peacefulness. Those wonderful emotions can’t be realized until you embrace the present moment. It’s all you can ever influence and all you will ever have. The more time you spend being mindful of your current moment, the more gratitude you will have for your life and the more peacefulness and serenity you will enjoy.

I’m bestselling author, entrepreneur, and online marketing strategist Connie Ragen Green, forever seeking the irresistible promise of inner peace in my life, and helping others to do the same.