Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.
— Buddha
Do you ever wonder why some people always seem to be calm even when they are at the centre of a storm? Or why other people are always enmeshed in drama that never seems to end? The answer is simple – inner peace.
What is inner peace? The dictionary defines inner peace as “a deliberate state of psychological or spiritual calm despite the potential presence of stressors.” Ok…great…now how do we achieve inner peace and why is it important?
Traditional Medicine teaches that stress in all its forms is incredibly bad for our livers. Our liver is the organ most adversely affected by stress. Add to this the fact that many of us reach for alcohol when feeling overwhelmed and our poor livers don’t stand a chance.
Stress creates a myriad of health problems including headaches, heart problems, weight gain and sleep disorders. Not to mention the emotional toll stress can take on our mental health and our relationships with others. Depression and anxiety are often side effects of too much stress.
So…how do we reach the fleeting and often elusive goal of inner peace?
1. Find ways to manage your stress levels. If you benefit from physical exercise then go for a run or step into the boxing ring. Do some meditation or Tai Chi. Exercise is good for you - it’s very cathartic. Acupuncture therapy may help relieve stress or you can have a relaxing massage. Don’t be afraid to indulge in self-care.
2. Don’t overdo things. We all tend to feel the world will fall apart if we take time off…if we don’t get everything done now. But the truth is most things can wait a few minutes, hours or days. Rest, relax and give yourself permission to say no.
3. Learn to let go. Holding onto anger, frustration or sadness is one of the worst things we can do for our stress levels. By learning to let go, we can forgive others as well as ourselves. None of us is perfect. Remember that fact next time you feel yourself becoming resentful or angry.
4. Are there stressful things in your daily life that you can rid yourself of? Are there people in your life that are bad for you? That make you feel bad about yourself? Consider letting them go and moving forward.
5. Find a new hobby. Learn to paint. Take a surfing class. Ride a bike. Read a book. Enjoy your down time and give yourself permission to have a little fun.
Inner peace will lend serenity to your soul. And a little serenity is something we all need to live our best life. Indulge in inner peace and watch your stress fade away.
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