Life is precious and beautiful — wouldn’t you like to spend as much of it as possible feeling relaxed, calm, and content? Although you can try to find serenity in the people you interact with and the environments you inhabit, you can’t always rely on external stimuli. If you choose to anchor your well-being to an ever-shifting world, you’ll inevitably feel unsettled. Instead, it’s best to learn how to find peace within yourself. That may sound like a tricky goal to achieve, but in fact, it all comes down to developing healthy habits.
Cultivating Inner Peace
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment and calmly acknowledging your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. It may sound complex, but it’s quite simple in practice. When we focus too much on the present or the past, we can become lost in our heads and fail to appreciate life as it currently is. Instead, try to be present in your everyday life. Notice your surroundings. Truly listen during conversations. Pay attention to your senses — what do you see, smell, hear, touch, and taste? Situate yourself firmly in the present moment.
Pay Attention to and Redirect Your Thoughts
When we become stressed, we have the tendency to lose control of our thoughts. We ruminate on the same worrying ideas over and over again, and we might even feel like we’re accomplishing something by worrying so much. But in fact, ruminating will just leave you feeling more anxious and upset. So, instead of letting your worries run amok, pay attention to them, acknowledge them, and then gently redirect your thoughts to something pleasant, true, and comforting. If you’re up for it, we encourage you to pair this with some deep breathing or maybe even meditation — both are easier and more effective than you might think!
Foster Self-Love
If you want to achieve inner peace, you need to feel at ease with yourself, and that necessitates self-love. Accept yourself as you are. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself as you’d treat your dearest friend. And trust yourself to make good choices — you’ve made it this far, haven’t you? Although it would be wonderful if self-love were inherent, most of us need to develop this skill. Pay attention to how you view yourself, and try to cherish your strengths and accept your flaws. No one is perfect, but we’re all worthy of love, respect, and kindness.
Connect with Loved Ones
Surround yourself with people who exude warmth and compassion. Human connection is essential for mental health, and simply spending time with someone kind when you’re feeling anxious or blue can be a game-changer. Look for friends who are willing to listen to your worries, offer sage advice, and simply be with you. In addition, try to foster deeper friendships with the people you already know.
Journal
Writing down your innermost thoughts — your anxieties, hopes, goals, and more — can be incredibly therapeutic. Putting all your chaotic thoughts on the page can help your brain feel free of them. Don’t worry about punctuation, grammar, or how eloquently you string your words together. Simply write.
Spent Time Outdoors
If you’re wondering how to find peace within yourself, it may sound counterintuitive to head outside. But in fact, spending time in the great outdoors is a great way to feel centered and grounded. Nature can be incredibly healing and restorative. Try sitting on a bench outside, listening to the birds, feeling the wind on your cheeks, and breathing in the fresh air. You’ll feel calmer in no time.
Practice Gratitude
Try keeping a gratitude journal in which you write down things you’re thankful for each day. This may sound like a gimmick, but over time, it can actually shift your focus from anxiety to gratitude. Throughout your day, your brain will start seeking out things that make you feel happy and thankful: the way the light filters through your window, the smile you share with the mailman, the friends you play bridge with, the blanket your daughter gave you . . . You’ll be amazed how many wonderful things in life you’ve been overlooking and underappreciating.
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Learning how to find peace within yourself may take a little patience and self-compassion, but it’s well worth the effort. Achieving true inner peace may be tricky, but the journey is the real reward.
At Springhouse Village, we encourage our residents to explore their interests and offer a wide range of activities and events so that there’s always something interesting happening. We make it easy for our residents to participate in our community. Whether that means encouraging residents to join an exercise class or assisting them in starting a garden club, we strive to help our residents thrive. To learn more about the amenities and services we offer, contact Springhouse Village today by sending us a message online or calling 417-708-3403.