Feelings of Inner Peace

Isn't it what we'd all like to experience regularly as we weave our way through everything life throws at us? The good news is that it is far easier to achieve than many of our outer (material or physical) objectives. The bad news is that easy isn't always simple! Inner peace is difficult to achieve because it necessitates the replacement of old habits with new ones, which requires a dedicated commitment. However, the benefits are well worth the effort.

Inner peace allows you to live your life with a sense of happiness, satisfaction, and fulfillment that is unaffected or influenced by external events. How do you get it? By living your life your way, rather than how others expect you to. By not caring what others think of you – we all judge others (positively and negatively) based on our values. Still, if we try to live our lives in a way that honors someone else's values rather than our own, we'll always feel a gnawing discomfort deep inside.

We must also be able to forgive and let go of guilt to experience inner peace. Forgive yourself as well as others. Feeling guilty about past actions will not change them and will not make anyone feel better (either you or the person you have harmed). Do what you can to make things right, commit to doing better in the future, and move on.

Similarly, letting go of anger or grudges will result in an incredible sense of peace. Consider this: how does holding on to these negative emotions benefit you? And do you believe they hurt those you hold them against more than they hurt you? No, not at all. They are your emotions, and you are the only one who they can harm.

Of course, it can be challenging to forgive someone who has hurt you, but I've come to realize that most people don't intentionally hurt others, and those who do are deeply unhappy themselves. The motivation for their actions was most likely fear rather than a deliberate desire to cause harm or pain. And when viewed in that light, it's easier to let go.

And, with a bit of practice, you might even find yourself becoming less annoyed or angry with people in the future. You'll have more inner peace if you can shrug things off and not take things personally (it's really about them, not you at all). Our happiness is determined more by how we think about events in our lives than by the events themselves. Take control of your thoughts, and you will have control of your emotions.

It would be best if you also let go of worry to achieve inner peace. Another difficult one! The concern is analogous to guilt. Worrying about what might or might not happen is entirely counterproductive and destroys your ability to appreciate the present moment. It's a shame because the present moment is all we have.

So, how do we learn to let go of our anxieties, guilt, and rage? The first step is to become conscious of what we think whenever we're worried, guilty, or angry. Notice what's going on in your inner dialogue, and recognize that it's your thoughts about the external event, not the event itself, that is causing you to feel the way you do. Then, reframe your thoughts in a more positive light to reflect on what's going on around you. When you catch yourself thinking about the old idea, immediately dismiss it and replace it with the new one.

"No one can create negativity or stress within you. Only you can do that under how you process your world." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

It will take a lot of practice, but with patience and persistence, you will develop a lighter inner dialogue that promotes a sense of well-being and inner peace, and the world will feel a lot better to live in!