In the modern-day world that we live in, peace has become the most valuable commodity. From the looks of it, it has become scarcer than the scarcest of resources as we have seemingly accepted that stress and anxiety are natural consequences of our lifestyle. This is unfortunate by any measure, as life is not meant to be so... devoid of peace!
Regardless, this is our reality, and we need to figure out ways to survive and thrive in it. Because the fact remains, no matter who you are, there will come the point where constant stress and anxiety will start taking a toll on your body. This will not only affect your physical and mental health, but it will also adversely affect the pursuit of your goals. To that end, let's take a look at some ways you can find and keep your inner peace.
1. Spend Time In Nature: Perhaps, our modern lifestyle's biggest drawback is that we simply don't get enough time to spend in nature. However, anyone who has ever spent some time in a forest, mountain, beach knows the healing and calming effect that doing so can have. It's like nature has this fantastic ability to recharge your mind, body, and spirit. So, make it a habit to spend more time in nature: exercise outside instead of going to the gym, having lunch outdoors, and spending as much of your weekends as you can out in nature. At the very least, get a plant for your office.
2. Focus On What You Can Control: It's a human tendency to want to control as many variables in life as possible. This tendency has probably been hardwired in all of us as it increases the chances of survival. However, as we are all aware, we can only truly control only a handful of things. So, when you find yourself worrying, take a minute to examine the things you have control over. You can't prevent a storm from coming, but you can prepare for it. You can't control how someone else behaves, but you can control how you react. It's much more peaceful that way!
3. Make Meditation A Way of Life: Meditation and peace are almost synonymous. There is something about sitting quietly and going inwards that just resets all your mental activity and psychological drama. Maybe that's why people have looked up to this practice since ancient times. Even scientific studies have shown that meditating regularly can have a plethora of positive effects on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Therefore, you should waste no time in making it a way of life.
4. Practice Gratitude: It's in our nature to always be in pursuit of something or the other. No matter how much we achieve, we are always looking for something else. In this race of life, it is only evident that you might forget about all the things you already have. All the blessings in your life might become a blur when all you can see in the future. This can keep you in a perpetual state of "not having." And that can be a significant source of stress. But if you can change your perception and start being grateful for all the great things, people, and situations in your life, you will be in a perpetual state of "having." This can be a source of peace and contentment. So, start making gratitude lists a habit!
Netsanet Tegegn, LCSW, is a Psychotherapist in Virginia Beach who provides individualized counseling services for those who wish to create long-lasting and positive changes in their lives...