It goes without saying: more peace makes for happier living. While we can never truly erase the chaos in our lives, there are realistic things we can do to minimize it. Life is way too short to live with the insanity. The good news is that, if you have an open mind and are willing to make some changes, you can create a more peaceful existence.
In honor of International Day of Peace (September 21), here are seven simple ways that you can start blocking out the drama and inviting more calm into your world.
How do you feel after looking at social media? Recharged and calmer? Or like a stressed-out failure? If social media leaves you feeling spent, you may want to reevaluate your relationship with it. Spending lots of time on social media has been associated with both sleep and mental health problems. Finding your escape in Facebook or on YouTube is okay as long as it’s done in moderation and not interrupting your personal life or career. But if it leaves you feeling inadequate and exhausted, try something that’s more life-giving, like spending face-to-face time with real friends.
Your job isn’t to bend over backwards to satisfy people. The unfortunate reality is, some people simply can’t be satisfied at all. Trying to win over difficult people is more effort than it’s worth. Make a list of all the complainers, whiners, and toxic people in your life. Crumple it up and throw it away. When the energy vampires take an exit, you’ll feel a lightness you haven’t felt in years.
Is your job destroying your sense of peace? Do you dread going to work? If so, it’s time to make a change. You deserve to find work that lifts you up and leaves you feeling satisfied at the end of the day. If you feel you’re not qualified for the job you want, go out and get the skills you need. Take an online course, enroll in certification training, or find a mentor. You’re in the driver’s seat and can direct yourself to a better future.
Ignoring a problem won’t make it go away. In fact, it will likely intensify your stress and anxiety. The best way is to address it and get it over with. What’s the worst that can happen? If the potential outcomes scare you, make a list of all of them and a plan of action for each one. That way, you’ll be prepared for the unknown. Then, take a deep breath and dive in.
Excuses can get exhausting. When something goes wrong, the easy and peace-giving response is to simply accept reality, tell the truth, and hold yourself accountable. Own your mistakes and take the steps to do better next time. When you eliminate excuses, you eliminate noise, making space for more calm to enter your life.
What do you get from pushing tasks off until the last minute? A whole lot of negative consequences. When you fail to act on something soon enough, you miss out on important events, feel disappointed, and may even go into panic mode. Start tackling to-do’s right away, and you’ll soon begin to feel more confident about your can-do capabilities.
When someone asks how you’re doing, how often do you really tell the truth? Be honest. Suppressing your true feelings isn’t a healthy way to live. You’re not expected to feel happy all the time. If you’ve been struggling, just say so. Most people will react with empathy and appreciate your honesty. In fact, your candor might encourage them to be more open, as well. As the saying goes, the truth shall set you free.
If you’re trying to find peace, one of the most important things you can do is to just act natural. Live authentically. This means, if you truly don’t want to do something, don’t do it. If you’re feeling something, feel it. If you want to say something, speak up. These bold new changes may seem uncomfortable at first, but the sense of calm you’ll feel afterwards will be well worth it.
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