Why does inner peace come so easily in the mountains or while on vacation, but elude us so often in every day life?
Our peace of mind is impacted by so many factors…
- our external environment;
- messages we receive both consciously and subconsciously (what we read, what we listen to);
- our relationships;
- our health and that of loved ones;
- our ability to live within our financial means;
- our thoughts and beliefs:
- our integrity (how aligned we are with our values);
- our sense of purpose, meaning and significance;
- our body, fitness and nutrition (and the judgments we place on them)
- and so much more.
It’s a complex story woven with so many intricacies, and in order to keep our mind at peace, we need to be it’s warrior gatekeepers.
Without us vigilantly filtering what comes in and consciously interpreting it from our higher self place (rather than the fear-based ego), we get bombarded. And we feel as such.
Just for a moment, think about the times you’re at total peace… when time stands still, there’s a smile in your heart, and all seems well.
Notice what’s NOT present during them.
- What aren’t you thinking about?
- Who aren’t you around?
- What conflicts aren’t you engaged in?
- What judgments are you free of?
- What aren’t you surrounded by in your physical environment?
- Notice what remains. What IS there?
What your thoughts are focused on; what energy you’re engaging in your activities with; who you’re with and how they make you feel; and how is your overall state of being?
One reason it’s so easy being peaceful in peaceful settings, is because the environment is such that we don’t need to be vigilant gate-keepers of our mind – nothing is triggering us, nothing is stressing us out. We can relax.
Don’t worry, I’m not advising you to leave your relationship, quit your job, give away all your possessions, or move to Aruba (although maybe those are options). There are many things you can do from exactly where you are, to cultivate greater peace of mind.
Think of peace gurus like the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Byron Katie and Eckart Tolle – they are this way because they’re masters of their minds. They’ve dedicated much of their life to cultivating inner peace (and from there, world peace). They’ve risen to the calling of being their mind’s extremely conscious gate-keeper in a time when we are bombarded with more information than ever before, at a speed like never before.
And again, don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you become a peace guru and meditate 4hrs/day.
Peace will come from doing (yes action is still important), and from being.
AND from knowing these two critical things:
- You are the creator of your peace.
- You are also the destroyer of your peace.
And that’s good news, because it means that what you long for, is completely within your power to have.
Just as it’s within your power to give up (and only yours), it’s also within your power (and only yours) to claim.
All the potential peace you could ever wish to experience is already within you, simply waiting for you to embrace it. And now is a wonderful time to do so.
Spring is a natural time for renewal, rebirth, and new life.
If you’re searching for greater peace, this is a perfect time to get into action. Because, dear reader, your life has clutter, and it’s causing you stress.
Should you wish to get into action, but not sure where to start, consider this PEACE ASSIGNMENT:
1- Think of clutter both literally and non-literally… Look around your home, office, car. Look at what you read, what you watch, and what you listen to. Look around your relationships.
Look into your beliefs. Look at your judgments of self, others and the world. Look into where you’re out of alignment with your values and what matters to you.
This is a large inventory, and you don’t need to hit it all at once – nor should you – they all simply point to potential stressors.
If you’re truly ready to experience greater peace, you can start anywhere you feel compelled by, however, a fast and easy place to start is with your physical surroundings…
2- Identify where you spend a lot of time (eg. office, kitchen, living room, your car) and choose to put peace in action there.
Harness simplicity and strengthen the “let go” muscles.
As you simplify your space and release what no longer serves you, you’ll will create a shift in your energy, your mood, your clarity, and in your peace of mind.
Not only will you be freer of clutter physically, but also mentally. In effect, you’re saying that you have space – space for peace, new opportunities, new beliefs, new patterns, new ways of being that support what you truly desire.
3- The soul loves beauty. We love being in nature because it’s so jaw-droppingly gorgeous. So once you’ve simplified your space and released the items cluttering your space and mind, beautify it with small elements. (Items like fresh flowers or new linen can be so refreshing. Just remember to maintain the spaciousness and stay within budget or you’ll create a whole other story of stress.)
Some questions to keep in mind as you de-clutter may include:
- Do you need this? (Do you really need this?)
- Do you use it regularly enough to justify it taking space in your sanctuary?
- Do you absolutely love it? (Does it spark joy?)
- Then, for the sake of inner peace and lightness of being, push yourself further… what more can you release?
Letting go can be really tough – I can relate! So I’ve found providing yourself permission can be extremely helpful.
Permission to let go, no matter what the story may be – maybe it has value, maybe it was gifted by someone special, maybe you worked really hard for it, maybe it provides a level of status or comfort. We can hold on for so many reasons, but no reason is big enough if it’s keeping you from the lightness and inner peace you desire. So, give yourself whatever permission you need in order to release it – and claim your inner peace.
If you’d like to work more on freeing the mind, I offer a 6 month coaching program that you may just love. If you’re interested in learning more please drop me a line at: elanperformance@gmail.com.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with cultivating greater peace. Please drop a line below to share.