MAKE WAY FOR JOY

LITTLE THINGS TO DO TO FIND PEACE IN LIFE--Article

VISUALIZE A GREAT DAY

Find a quiet moment in the morning to program yr mind abt the kind of day you’d like to have. If you close yr eyes and picture a tranquil day, you can carry that inner peacefulness throughout the day. These few mins focus on developing a calm mindset, to get perspective and decide what’s important.

FIND YR SOURCE OF JOY

Look for something that makes yr body and mind feel so wonderful that you start to crave it. Whether its salsa/yoga class or painting a watercolor, start giving yrself healthy pleasure.

BE THANKFUL

Developing a mindset of gratitude is essential for inner peace. When yr cup is full, stop pouring. Taking walks by the beach fill one with joy and gratitude of the beauty and abundance the earth provides.

LISTEN TO YR HEART

Its easy to feel trapped by the busyness or monotony of our lives. Once you develop inner peace, you will find you have a lot of time.

Exercise: Close yr eyes and sit quietly with feet firmly on the ground and repeat a phrase like ‘I am’ or ‘Amen’ or ‘OM’. When you feel yr mind becoming quiet, focus on yr heart. Ask ‘what do I want?’. This simple exercise will teach you how to find the truth within yrself. Ask yrself why you want the things you do. You may be surprised by yr own answer.

BE PATIENT WITH YRSELF

Set realistic goals especially when trying to make positive changes, like starting an exercise program or planning ‘me’ time. Planning to do too much at one go can sabotage the best intentions and you’ll give up in a day or two. Five or ten mins a day is all it takes to get started. Keep to yr schedule for one month and it’ll become part of yr routine. It takes abt 28 days of daily practice to establish a habit.

STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Multitasking with computers, cell phones and email demands we think ahead constantly. Juggling too many thoughts results in one being unable to keep up. Refocus yr attention on what yr doing right now.

LET GO OF BEING RIGHT

Be willing to relinquish yr opinion. Instead of forcing advice on someone or arguing to make yr point, ask yrself, ‘Is this really so important?’ Not only can letting go help you hold on to yr peace of mind, it can also bring a new calm into yr relationships. When you have a choice of being right and being kind, you’re a lot better off being kind.

Whenever you hear yr voice rising in an argument, it’s a cue to ask yrself ‘is this worth it?’ unless the issue is of crucial safety, the best course of action is to let go.

CHOOSE A MANTRA

Find a short phrase or a short prayer that reinforces yr sense of inner peace and write it on several Post-It Notes. Put them on yr bathroom mirror, on yr desk etc as gentle reminders. It can be as simple as ‘I have all the time I need to have a wonderful day’ or ‘There will be enough time’ or ‘Let it begin with me’.

INSPIRE YR CHILDREN

Nature walks, camping, arts and crafts are opportunities to introduce peace as a topic of conversation. Learn to meditate.

TRANQUILITY TO GO

When you know yr going to have a hectic or difficult day, wear something that can bring you back to a quiet zone. It may be a special pair of earrings or a piece of clothing in a soothing color. Visual cues stimulate the limbic system, where emotions are stored. Peaceful stimuli can help activate peaceful thoughts.

Peace can become a lens through which you see the world. Be it. Live it. Radiate it out. Peace is an inside job.

Take the BIG PICTURE view along with a few deep breaths when anxiety creeps up on you. Is any of this going to make even a bit of difference in yr life a day, a month, a year from now?

After all, EVERYTHING CHANGES AND THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS.