Inner peace goes beyond personal needs or goals for yourself. It’s a major contributing factor to cultivating peace in the world. It starts at the individual level. So, when you make strides toward achieving inner peace, you’re really contributing on a much larger level. Doesn’t it feel great to know that your small efforts at achieving inner peace can actually have a positive impact on the world as a whole?
What a privilege! It’s very rewarding to be able to contribute to the wellbeing of the world by working on yourself. So what are some ways to cultivate inner peace?
5 Ways to Cultivate Your Inner Peace
1) Don’t take things too personally
If you find yourself feeling insulted easily, try to remember that what others say and do is rarely because of you. It’s more of a reflection of how they are currently feeling. The person who was grouchy at you may have just had a rough day or fought with their spouse this morning. The thoughtless words of a spouse or friend are probably a reflection of the bad mood they are in or of their focus being elsewhere.
The truth is, people rarely think about us or consider the effect that their words may have on us, as much as we wish they would. Most people in your life rarely if ever, consciously set out to intentionally hurt you. Realizing this can help you overlook the sometimes thoughtless yet provoking actions or words of others.
2) Practice being mindful
Mindfulness is all about paying attention on purpose. It allows you to focus fully on the one thing we truly have: this moment. Developing a mindfulness practice helps you stop living on autopilot, staying stuck in the past, or worrying about the future. Although it sounds like a simple concept, it’s not easy.
The good news is though that every time you find your thoughts wandering away from the present moment, you have the chance to bring them back to the present moment once again. Taking up the practice of mindfulness will literally change your life.
3) Be still
It’s hard to be still and fully present. It’s do-able, though. And peace is found in the trying or practicing. Take time to go outside: sit on a beach or the grass in your back yard or on a bench at your local park. Instead of looking at all the people passing by and watching where they go, just sit and be still. Maybe you’ll want to close your eyes. Just let people pass by like clouds in the sky. Be present and refrain from overthinking.
Enjoy the sensations of the wind blowing through your hair and the warm sun on your face. Hear the people talking in the distance without getting caught up in what they are saying. When your mind tries to engage in the things it sees and hears around it, just focus on your breathing. You’ll begin to experience a calm, loving feeling inside. Now, that is inner peace.
4) Meditate
This goes one step beyond being still. Practicing meditation in a quiet place with your eyes closed and focused on your breathing can bring about profound feelings of inner peace. I’ve always found it difficult to meditate in complete silence. My mind wanders or I tend to get sleepy.
So, a few years ago, I began using guided meditations and meditation music. It’s helped me so much, I decided to create my own programs with a variety of guided meditations that incorporate all the elements of inner peace we are discussing here. Feel free to check them out.
5) Share it with others
This tip leads us back to where we started – cultivating peace in the world by finding it in ourselves. When you have found a sense of inner peace, you will naturally want to share it with others. You’ll want nothing more than to show others that peace isn’t as elusive as it seems, in our fast-paced modern world.
You can grow your own inner peace and spread it to others by having a loving attitude and expressing it by being kind, compassionate, and patient. Allow the peace you feel within you, show through your attitude towards others, and be reflected in your words and actions.
