by Gail Lynne Goodwin, founder InspireMeToday.com
No single thing has the power to affect our health more than our own inner state of mind. When we live in constant stress, it directly affects our health and well-being. Research shows that stress compromises our immune system, affects our mood, and diminishes our overall health. The good news is, we are in control of our own peace of mind and, with awareness and intention, can reduce or eliminate stress from our life.
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s good to remember that the only thing that can give you peace of mind is you. Likewise, the only thing that can take it from you is you. You and you alone are responsible for your peace of mind, or lack thereof.
No matter what happens around us, we have a choice in how we react to any given situation. Although we might not be able to control the circumstances, we are in full control of our reaction to it. Sometimes this is a hard fact to remember, especially when we get caught up in the drama or the emotion of the situation.
It’s easier to blame our boss, our spouse, the bank, the government…. However, when we really take the time to go inside, we see that the only way that stress can occur from any situation is if we allow it to do so. We have to be willing to give away our power to something outside of us, to the situation or to another person. It IS a choice that we make, most times unconsciously.
We can blame things around us, circumstances that are “out of our control”. As the bumper sticker reads, “S**t happens!” But know this… when s**t happens - and it will - you have the choice to use it as fertilizer to grow! You do not have to allow the external circumstance or occurrence to affect your peace of mind, unless you give it permission to do so.
Sometimes we’re given opportunities to test our resilience and our growth. We have the choice in how to respond - it doesn’t have to be automatic.
Pausing and asking myself “Will this action bring me peace of mind?” has been the key to my inner peace. By asking this simple question, you can take back control of your life and ACT rather than react. And in doing so, you’ll receive the added benefit of peace of mind.
Here are 7 steps to increase your personal peace of mind:
1) Realize and acknowledge that although you don’t have control of the situation, you DO have control of how you choose to react to it.
2) If it’s not positive, don’t spend time talking about it, hashing it out with others, blogging about it, or thinking about it in any way. Release it and let it go.
3) Let go of expectations about the outcome of a situation and what you believe “should” or shouldn’t happen. It’s not up to you.
4) Rather than react, act consciously from a place of love, instead of from fear. Know that your actions are enough. Know that you took the high road and did the right thing, regardless of the circumstances. We can reach out with love, even when we’re afraid of the outcome, knowing that love heals everything and it eliminates stress too.
5) Do things that bring you joy! Whatever it is, find what makes you happy and do it more often. Simple, easy advice that works every time.
6) Be grateful for everything that comes into your life, even the “icky” stuff, knowing that in this too, there is blessing. Sometimes you might have to look a bit harder, but the blessing is always there.
7) Ask yourself, “What action can I take that will bring me the greatest peace of mind in this very moment?” Then go do that. Let go of the feeling that you have to make things “right”, or any personal responsibility to be the morality or karma police for others. We’re all walking our own path and the best way we can help the world, is to first have our own inner sense of peace.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me… remembering, peace is always an inside job. And where there is peace, there is abundant health. And from abundant health, all good things follow.