Finding Inner Peace and Happiness

(simplified)

In current times, Inner peace has become a luxury. We live in a convulsive society that “forces” us to lead a hectic lifestyle in which we don’t stop for a minute. If we get involved, we will be overwhelmed by a mountain of things to do, most of them insignificant, that don’t leave us a second to ourselves.

We are so caught up in the fast pace that sometimes, when we have some time for ourselves, we feel guilty. Guilty because we should be doing something more productive.

But there comes a time when it is necessary to stop and say “enough!”. Enough of meaningless worries and an oppressive pace of life. Enough of social pressures, all those meaningless activities and the pursuit of perfection.

Finding inner peace is essential for our well-being and happiness. From time to time it is essential to relax, take a break and rearrange our priorities. This is a change worth making.

What is inner peace?

Tranquility is not peace. Today’s world sells us a quiet, artificial and anesthetized peace that we can access simply by placing the “do not disturb” sign. This space of tranquility is important, no doubt, as it allows us to rest, but it is not the peace we need.

Inner peace is a subjective feeling of well-being, it is impalpable but very real as it fills us with deep tranquility. It is a state where we free ourselves from our main worries, fears, stresses and sufferings.

However, inner peace involves much more than just getting rid of negative emotions and feelings, it also means being aware of the wonders of life and feeling fully connected to the universe and to ourselves.

Inner peace is a feeling of calm in which we stop fighting against negative thoughts and emotions, even if this does not mean that they do not exist, but rather that they stop dominating and harming us because we do not give them too much importance and prevent them from becoming recurring worries. It is a state in which we mentally and emotionally separate from everyday problems and conflicts and take the psychological distance necessary to enjoy serenity.

Can Inner Peace Be Achieved?

Many people think that it is impossible to achieve that state of inner peace. They claim that everyday life is so uncertain and sometimes so capricious that it is not possible to find serenity because problems are always around the corner. True, there is no denying that life includes a huge dose of uncertainty. The key is the locus of control .

When we have an external locus of control and every situation has the power to negatively affect us and make us lose our temper, it is impossible to find inner peace. People with an external locus of control are like leaves moved by the wind that will not find peace even in the best moments, because they will think about all the misfortunes that may appear on the horizon.

But this does not mean that it is impossible to achieve inner peace. When we have an internal locus of control , we can decide which battles are worth fighting. If instead of reacting, we take control and decide with what attitude to face problems by taking the reins of our life in hand, we can aspire to develop lasting inner peace.

Therefore, inner peace is not something that is found by chance, it is a personal decision, a choice, it is something that is consciously built by putting into practice behaviors and thoughts that make us calm.

Where to find inner peace?

Inner peace is something we find in ourselves. The peace that is obtained by eluding reality and problems is an artificial peace, that will end as soon as adversity knocks on our door.

This means that inner peace is not only built when we are calm and peaceful, but also in the midst of the storm. Inner peace is tempered in adversity.

Ways to Find Inner Peace and Happiness

Accept what is

The first fundamental step is to learn to accept things for what they are .

The Zen masters said: “If you can change something why do you worry, if you can’t change something why do you worry?”

this is really an inspiring thought that encourages you to accept what is. you learn to distinguish between the things you can change and those you can’t change.

A famous prayer of the Cherokee Indians reads: “Great spirit enable me to change what I can change and to accept what I cannot change. And give me the wisdom to understand the difference between them. “

The Buddha also left us a great teaching: everything is impermanent , it is part of the nature of things. The sooner we welcome this reality, the sooner we free ourselves.

Accepting things the way they are means, freeing oneself from the bondage of the mind and impersonation with one’s ego.

Your peace does not depend on others

It must be understood that inner peace, like happiness or joy, are qualities of the soul .

It is a condition that depends on you , do not put your peace in relation with what you live in your reality. You may think that you are not at peace because there is something around you that is bothering you, creating problems for you.

It is exactly the opposite: having no peace inside you, you don’t have it (and you don’t live it) even outside.

The mind says, “When everything falls into place, I will find peace.” The Spirit says, “Find peace and everything will be fine.”

Notice it, are you more identified with your mind or with your soul?

Believe (and you will receive the answers)

Don’t be upset because you don’t have all the answers. Be serene, the answers to questions always come , and they come from the heart.

Do not disturb your peace with the hassles of the mind, have a deep trust and you will see that the answers will come.

Achieving inner peace doesn’t come from knowing everything, you don’t need to have everything under control. The road to awareness is long and in the meantime we can learn to walk it serenely, in peace with ourselves.

Accepting that life is an endless path to learning will bring you closer to experiencing true inner peace. Don’t be in a hurry, time is an illusion, live in the present moment.

Live in the present moment

Most of the time, we worry about something that belongs to the past or something that hasn’t happened yet. Living in the present moment, on the other hand, is a prerogative of those who are at peace with themselves and live in a conscious way.

Why worry about the past or the future? It is in the present moment that you sow the seeds of the future, so if you are worried about your future, you should stop and take care of your present!

Only in the present moment can you achieve true inner peace . In the now there are no problems, no worries. There is only silence, and it is within that silence that peace can be discovered. Learn to live in the “here and now” .

The master said: “The present is a gift, that’s why it’s called ‘present’!”

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.
– Thich Nhat Hanh

Gratitude and forgiveness

We have some amazing tools at our disposal for self-work, two of which are gratitude and forgiveness .

These are high qualities that nourish us with good vibrations. They represent the access key to a dimension of peace and bliss.

Through gratitude we create the conditions to develop greater inner serenity and by forgiving (ourselves and others) we no longer allow anyone to destroy our peace.

It is evident that it will be easier to be grateful for the happy experiences of our life, in fact the hard part will be learning to thank and forgive our “enemies” or experiences of pain. Learning to forgive will allow us to feed our peace, not allowing external situations to ruin it.

“Forgive them, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace”.

Energy Flows where Attention Goes

As you may already know, energy follows in accordance with your attention. Where you put your attention, energy flows there. What are you focusing on? Where do your thoughts lead you?

Learning to consciously direct attention is important for regaining mastery of the mind. Pay attention internally, observing what happens and paying attention to the emotions that arise within you.

Do not allow what is happening on the outside to shift your attention and waste energy. When you realize that a situation is pulling you away, make an effort of will and bring your attention back into yourself.

Inner peace comes from feeling comfortable with decisions, thoughts and emotions.

Do Meditation

If you haven’t tried meditation yet , you are missing out on doing a very important activity that can change your life .

Meditating for twenty minutes a day can have a huge impact on all areas of your life and great benefits.

Meditation is a tool that everyone can use to regain that fundamental contact with themselves. The easiest and most natural way to clear the way to inner peace.

If you have never practiced, find out how to meditate alone in an easy way or the more advanced meditation techniques .

“Build a temple of peace within yourself, there you will find Him on the altar of your soul.” – P. Yogananda