The Top 10 Ways to Cultivate Inner Peace in Troubled Times
1. Get out of your head and into your body.
Do you know how your arm throws a softball or how you fall asleep at night? No, and neither do you “know” (in your head, that is) how you find peace. Your body is your best guide here. What does peace feel like in your body? Which activities (or non-activities) cultivate peaceful sensations for you?
2. Create space in your life.
On a weekly basis, review the upcoming week and schedule one or two blocks of time for “peace.” Resist planning for this time. Allow yourself to do or not do whatever feels most peaceful in that moment.
3. Set the scene.
When you wake up in the morning, take time to set an intention of peace for the day. Imagine how you want to feel and be. Know that peacefulness is a choice you can make, regardless of the situations you encounter during the day. Pray, meditate, or simply drink your hot tea… with the intention of setting the scene for peace.
4. Put down your hammer.
One of the biggest obstacles to peacefulness is our inner compulsion to “do” constantly and to try to “fix” things — situations, people, etc. Step back from stressful situations in order to notice your own thoughts and feelings without judgment. Give yourself permission to leave the world alone and go within.
5. Take a deep breath.
Have you ever noticed how shallow and quick your breathing becomes when you are stressed? Taking long, slow deep breaths is a way to signal to your body that you want peace.
6. Notice nature.
Get outside at least once a day for a short walk. Notice how nature all around you is in the midst of seasonal change. Imagine the peacefulness of trees and plants in the natural world. Notice how gradually and peacefully change occurs. Be patient with your process of cultivating peace.
7. Light a candle.
Choose a ritual, such as lighting a candle, that represents experiencing peace. When you look at the flame, imagine a white flame of peace that always resides in you.
8. Hug your loved ones.
It feels good to be loving and affectionate. It’s also good for our relationships!
9. Choose your next thought carefully!
What are you thinking about when you are in turmoil? What situations are you imagining? If you want to sustain peace in your life, you must learn to release troubling thoughts and to replace them with more peaceful thoughts and images. Say to yourself or out loud, “In this situation, I want peace.”
10. Let the floor support you!
Deep physical relaxation is a wonderful way to cultivate inner peace. At the end of a long day, I love to lay on the floor, drape my legs over the sofa, close my eyes, breathe deeply, and simply feel the support of the floor beneath me. I focus on letting go of all muscle tension. Relax, let the floor support you for a while!
About the Submitter:
Submitted by Christine Morris, Ph.D., who can be reached at cmorris@howardcc.edu
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