Having peace of mind is as important as keeping the body fit and the spirit young. However, with all the occupations that surround us in the world in which we live, it seems increasingly difficult to achieve this serenity. Nobody wants to suffer, and that is why adversity is something we never want to face in life. But difficulties are also powerful detonators of the potential of the human being to grow, overcome, and move forward. Read below to understand what peace of mind is and how you can achieve it.
What is peace of mind?
Peace of mind is about a sense of tranquility and confidence, where our mental balance is in accord with universal understanding. In short, it means that we have within ourselves the tools to deal with adversity. Thus, this ability occurs through mind control, where the effects of any external factors such as stress are also blocked.
How to achieve peace of mind
1. Think positive
At many times in your daily life, you live a situation, but your mind is far away thinking of other things. This is one of the main problems that make people feel restless and even stressed out. You cannot have inner peace if you don’t have your head in order. The way you think has a lot to do with the preoccupations you have every day. If you are pessimistic all the time, you are conditioning yourself to have a bad day, and things go wrong. Every time you have a negative thought, correct yourself immediately and see the bright side of the situation. Take actions to be more loving and kind to move your mind to a more positive mental state. It's not about reciting positive affirmations or tricking yourself to become positive. It's about embodying love and kindness within yourself and radiating it to the world. And by doing that, naturally your mind begins to become calmer, and you experience peace of mind.
2. Practice meditation
Guided meditation stimulates creativity and opens the doors to solve problems in ways that you would not have thought of before. This act of concentration can bring many benefits of meditation into your life, as well as helping you cope better with your responsibility. Also, meditation prevents stress from taking over you. The best thing is that it is so simple to learn to meditate, and anyone can put it into practice at home. Once you are encouraged to try this good habit, you will never want to leave it, and you will feel much calmer inwardly. It's not about being alone with your thoughts, it's about noticing how they flow in and out, without your control. It serves as a reminder that you don't need to believe everything you think.
3. Let things go
For the sake of your mental health, letting things go will allow you to have peace of mind. Life isn't always fair. Sometimes, bad things happen, even though we've done nothing wrong. We could spend our whole lives getting revenge for all the injustices that happen to us, but then we also wouldn't have peace of mind. Finding peace isn't about being passive about what happens to us. It's more so about having the self-control to not let it take over our thoughts and actions. Accepting an injustice, such as a dismissal of a job, will allow you to plan for your next chapter, interview, and job.
4. Focus on the present
If you want a peaceful mind, live in the present. When we have negative thoughts in our mind, we get stuck in the past. We'll replay bad memories and painful situations. When we have anxious thoughts in our mind, it's because we're fearing the future. However, when we have happy thoughts or no thoughts at all, it's because we're living in the present. Pop culture glamorizes anxiety and depression in a lot of ways. The tabloids regularly cover people's mental health breakdowns. What they don't cover often, are people who have peace of mind and simply enjoy life. You can find peace by getting out of your head and experiencing the real world.
5. Accept what you can't change
Acceptance is all about controlling what you can but accepting what you can't control. There are billions of people in the world. Everyone has their own agenda, goals, wants, and needs. Your mental state will collapse if you're always trying to control the uncontrollable. You can have peace of mind by understanding that sometimes things are outside of our control. Take ownership of what you can, such as your behaviour and attitude. However, accept the things you can't control like ruminating thoughts, other people, natural disasters, time, and so on. You can do everything in your power to prevent something from happening, but sometimes it's out of your hands. To experience peace of mind, you need to accept what's beyond your control, even if it's unpleasant or not what you've planned.
6. Read for at least twenty minutes a day
Reading is one of the best gifts of peace of mind you can give your brain. This is because it is not only an interesting hobby but also relaxes and gives you a greater capacity for concentration and reasoning. You only need to spend twenty minutes of your day reading a little to begin your finding peace journey. In this way, you will realize that it is not so difficult, but also entertaining, enlightening and a great help. Don't let your anxiety destroy your morning routine. If you want to have peace of mind, consider reading books about how the brain works, meditation, mindfulness, or other positive topics. There’s plenty of meditation books out there from you to choose from that will give you peace of mind.
7. Spend some time alone
Your well being will greatly improve when you spend some time alone. While it's important to build social connections, most of the time, your peace of mind is disrupted by others. When things get a little too chaotic and you can't get a minute's peace, consider removing your worry by isolating yourself temporarily. Being alone every now and then can be great for your health, happiness, and inner peace. Experiencing the mental freedom of being alone will allow you to recharge your batteries, build yourself back up, and move forward. Before you do this, tell other people where you'll be so they don't worry. For example, some people might choose to take a one or two-week vacation alone to pull themselves together. Sometimes, a little break will give your mind peace and the feeling that you can solve your problem. However, remember that life is like a school. And at some point, you'll need to learn how to have peace of mind even when around difficult people. You'll need to develop the skills of communicating in a loving way and giving people the benefit of the doubt when moments of heated discussion occur.
8. Relax your expectations
Life never follows the path you have outlined in your plans. Many times we spend too much time thinking about how things are going to be in our future. But when reality does not meet our expectations, we get frustrated quickly. The truth is that what you need will come in the form of what you expect from life. Something to remember is that sometimes life pushes you off course to teach you a lesson, but that lesson isn't always painful, they can be beautiful loving moments too. Remember that if things don't go as planned, it doesn't mean you're off course, maybe life is bringing you exactly where you want to be you're just too early in the journey. Always look for the life lesson of each situation and don’t let these “detours” steal your peace of mind. Going with the flow can lead to beautiful life experiences. Don't be so rigid in your plans.
9. Speak with a therapist
Finding a therapist to speak with once a month can help you have peace of mind. A therapist can improve your well being by giving you the tools you need to manage ruminating thoughts, promote calmness, and help you find your true self. Rest assured, seeing a therapist is good for your mental health. It can be really healthy to have a sounding board to prevent your thoughts from destroying your peace of mind. Challenge any preconceived notions of what it means to see a therapist as it can bring you joy and sign you up for success.
10. Exercise
Create an exercise routine when you want peace of mind. While exercise can feel like the opposite thing you feel like doing when stressed, it can bring about a sense of calm and relaxation. Running can make you feel free while pumping you up with feel-good endorphins to help calm the mind. Challenge yourself to exercise at least four days a week or by setting a goal of 10,000 steps a day. Any distress you feel will vanish when moving your body. Exercise is like free therapy. So test yourself to push harder and fight the urge to sit back.
11. Give yourself time
Resilience is not a speed competition, take all the time you need to overcome adversity and take on the necessary learning. Healing emotional pain is a complex process, and like all, it is best concluded without unnecessary haste. Do not be pressured to take the lessons and do not allow others to place excessive expectations on you to move forward. Overcoming some things is not a matter of a couple of days, it takes a lot of effort and learning to feel good again. Live the moment to find peace of mind, and see one step at a time. Keep in mind that not because yesterday was a particularly painful day, it will be to even today. Not because today is a difficult day, every day will be the same. If you break, then get up and keep walking. Nothing happens because it is hard for you to move on or because the strength fails. Explore your pain, recognize it, and work on it to overcome difficulties.
12. Do daily acts of kindness
The easiest way to have peace of mind is by doing acts of kindness daily. Every day choose to do a good deed for another person. You could write a kind comment on a social media post, call a loved one to tell them why you love them and are grateful for them, or write an article with ideas that'll help someone in distress. There are countless kind gestures you can do. Being kind is proven to regulate your thoughts. Those who live in negativity get stuck in thought loops. When you change your behavior by doing a daily act of kindness you start moving out of the negative spot in your head. And slowly but surely, your world changes. You radiate happiness and love wherever you go. Things you used to roll your eyes over now make you feel joy instead of bitterness. And your mind gets really quiet allowing you to experience peace of mind. You can read books like 365 Acts of Kindness or 365 Daily Acts of Kindness for Your Spouse for more ideas.
13. Get some extra sleep
It's easier to have peace of mind when you're well-rested. Those who only sleep a few hours each night are more likely to have racing thoughts, anxiety, and even depression. Sleep allows you to process the day's information subconsciously. When you sleep a full eight hours each night, your brain is likely calmer so it's easier to deal with the personal issues that arise during difficult periods. A calm mind means that you'll be able to handle difficult situations with kindness and grace. So, aim to get some shut eye each night by going to bed a bit earlier to wake up with peace of mind. If you struggle with falling asleep at night or wake up a lot throughout the night, try reducing your carb intake during the day.
14. Share your feelings with someone you trust
Being mentally strong does not mean not having feelings, but knowing how to handle them. It is natural that in the face of adversity, you feel overwhelmed and crying. Keeping your pain or worry can plunge you into isolation that causes you a sense of loneliness and even depression. Your friends, family, and loved ones are there to support and accompany you even in the most challenging parts of your life. Go to them when you need them. Having someone you trust at your side will help you channel those emotions to leave your mind and body more easily.
15. Take a mindful walk
We are part of nature, and that is why being in it is so good. Even if you live in a large city, you can find ways to maintain that contact, such as in parks, or some green area. Try to include this kind of walk in your routine, step on the grass, touch trees, enjoy this powerful connection, and recharge your batteries to gain some peace of mind. Notice all the nature surrounding you, from animals roaming about to the weather. Avoid wearing headphones on your walk to maximize your experience. The idea is to take a quiet walk without interruptions and enjoy it to the fullest.
16. Listen to classical or ambient music
The power of sound within the mind is incredible, to such an extent that certain songs calm us and make us feel happy. The classic compositions are the most recommended to stimulate the brain, increasing its ability to concentrate and study. They also provide immense calm to the body. Ambient sounds that mimic nature are another very effective alternative with which you can try. Especially when you are meditating, taking a walk, or doing something artistic. You can also listen to positive songs that uplift you.
17. Practice Gratitude
Writing a gratitude list will help you reduce the feeling of stress by reminding you of all the good things you have in your life. Every day, think about the things you're grateful for having. You can also write down good things that happened to you that day that you feel grateful for. You could be grateful for having specific people in your life or certain opportunities. The phrase, "I'm grateful for..." or "I really appreciate..." should be openly discussed with others when giving feedback to others. Let people know you appreciate them. Test yourself by writing down your gratitude list without looking at other people's lists. Then, look at other people's lists and compare what you have that you completely didn't realize. Those who practice gratitude experience more peace of mind.
18. Avoid comparing yourself to others
Stop comparing yourself to others if you want to have peace of mind. You'll have greater peace by focusing on comparing yourself today to who you were than by comparing yourself to someone else. The feeling of insecurity vanishes when comparison becomes positive. For example, when you look at someone and you appreciate something they do well and want to incorporate that one thing they do really well into your life. You get the chance to grow into a better person too. There's no need to wonder "what is wrong with me?" or "why am I not good enough?" when looking at other people. Ask yourself, "what does the present me have to start doing so that the future me can have peace of mind?" and then start building those habits into your life. The big secret: it's being genuinely kind in every interaction.
19. Look at things from a different perspective
You might need to shift your perspective when faced with troubling problems that steal your peace of mind. Regardless of the problem that comes your way, always be clear about the good and positive aspects you embody as a person. A very real part of you exists independently of your immediate concerns, problems, and frustrations. If you feel overwhelmed, step back, and observe the way you experience things. Your body may feel inner turmoil, but that suffering does not define you. Eventually, that pain will dissipate and leave you learning something new.
20. Love and practice self care
Always remember to love yourself and others, forgive yourself and others, and finally treat yourself the same way you treat a loved one. When you love and respect yourself, you eventually end up on a journey where loving others becomes easier. You don't learn to love yourself by accident. You learn to love yourself by doing the hard work of working on your weaknesses, working to evolve into a version of yourself you feel more comfortable being, and connecting with who you really are deep down. Trauma and difficult life events can put walls up that make us forget who we are at our core. When we do the deep work to re-discover our true self, loving ourselves becomes easier. And as a result, it's easier to love the world too. And that's when peace of mind becomes your reality.
21. Prepare for rainy days
You can help yourself have peace of mind by preparing for rainy days. In life, curveballs will always happen, such as sudden job loss, death of a loved one, or an unexpected big expense. You can prepare for these rainy days in so many ways. For example, if you save up in an emergency fund or build out your income streams, you'll be prepared for unexpected job losses or big expenses. Telling loved ones how much you appreciate them while they're alive will prevent any guilt you may feel from an unexpected death. You can have greater peace of mind by having open conversations with people and planning ahead.
Conclusion
Every day is a new beginning and a new opportunity to improve things and keep growing. Do not focus on the past or what it could be, but work to improve your future prospects and gain greater learning. Keep your mind at peace, and remember that the world does not end with problems. Every day you have the opportunity to recalculate your course if necessary. Learning to interpret difficulties and not clinging to frustration takes time. It’s up to you to decide how you want to deal with problems. When we realize this, it's actually more empowering than frightening, bringing more peace of mind to our life. If you want to start the journey towards having peace of mind, you can sign up for Declutter The Mind.
