Finding Peace of Mind
Each of us goes through challenging times. Whether it’s loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, or some other draining event, we will have to get through it and move on. The ability to do so is called resilience, which is defined as the capacity to recover from difficulties, a toughness. But how do we find and nurture this resilience? One answer is finding peace of mind.
Peace of mind is an inner calm; it is acceptance of life’s unpredictability. Challenges occur; traumatic experiences happen that leave us drained, anxious and fearful. These feelings can’t be ignored, because ignoring them only makes them fester and grow worse. So since you cannot suppress negative emotions like anxiety, nor fixate on them, how does one find peace of mind?
Once serenity is attained, you feel at ease with yourself, are unruffled by day-to-day worries and are better prepared to welcome whatever challenges life throws at you.
There are several ways to achieve peace of mind, according to Matthew Boland, a licensed clinical psychologist who is part of the medical network for the website Psych Central.
First, accept what you can and cannot change. Try to remember that bad times too shall pass. You are going through a tough situation, but you’ll get through it.
Second, learn to forgive. Holding grudges or hate hurts only you and takes up too much energy.
Third, practice mindfulness. This is a skill gained through meditation and through awareness and acceptance of the present, instead of fixating on the past.
Fourth, make time for yourself. Set aside a period to meditate or enjoy a hobby.
Fifth, Keep a journal. Record your thoughts and feelings on paper and you’ll find you may understand yourself better.
Sixth, get outside and take a walk. Exercise helps relieve stress. Visit a park, national forest or beach. Get back to nature and relax.
Obtaining peace of mind can help you weather any storm. This is not something that happens overnight, but over time it can make a big difference in your life.
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*Written by Chester Curtis, Army Resilience Directorate