How to find inner peace

Are you looking for happiness and inner peace? Peace of mind means that you have a sense of harmony, emotional well-being, and fulfillment in life regardless of any immediate difficulties (money, relationships, loss, etc.). You can achieve this by practicing self-acceptance with yourself and the world around you, practicing mindfulness, and meditating.

Table of Contents

Practice self-acceptance

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Make a personal self-assessment. Self-acceptance is very important in promoting peace of mind because it allows us to feel better about everything that is going on regardless of the circumstances. ^{[1] X Source of Research} If we try to avoid pain, we will only make it stronger. You can begin to practice self-acceptance through a personal self-assessment – who you are, how you look, how you feel, and what you do.

Write down a self-assessment of your personality, traits (positives and everything you want to improve), actions, or appearance. You should try to accept everything in your assessment – even the elements that you are not proud of. Forgive yourself for the mistake you’ve made if necessary, and focus on what you can do today to become better.
Set up a list of goals. Sometimes, having dreams and aspirations is what helps us move toward self-acceptance. Set goals for yourself and every day, work towards achieving them. Some examples of personal goals include: losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more often, pursuing a new hobby (like playing a musical instrument), or watching less TV. Every day, you should ask yourself whether the work you do aligns with your goals and values.
Reframe negative traits into positives to promote self-acceptance. For example, perhaps you think you are not tall and therefore are not completely satisfied with your height. You can practice self-acceptance by building a sense of your height. What does your height mean or aim for? Does it help you do certain activities that tall people can’t do? How does your height benefit you?

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Focus on what you are grateful for. One way to accept life is to be grateful for everything you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Make a list of all the things you value in life; it can include: family, friends, home, food, education, government, law, nature, streets, and transportation. You should remember that some people in this world can’t access things that look pretty basic to us.
You can even keep a gratitude journal online through a few websites or personal blogs and share your thoughts with the world. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Don’t try to control what you can’t change. As humans, we often want to control others (what they do or do) as well as our environment (home, work, school, society, the world). We want our spouse to be a better person, our boss to be kinder, the house cleaner, and the traffic better. This is because we feel panic in the face of all the factors we don’t know about, or can’t control, including our own death. Unfortunately, we can’t always control these outcomes. Ultimately, we do not have the ability to control the thoughts, feelings, or actions of others.

Focus on what is in your control. ^{[4] X Research Source} You should ask yourself “What can I do in this situation?”. If you can’t change it then accept it and ignore it.

Practicing mindfulness

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Focus on the present. Mindfulness helps to increase inner peace. ^{[5] X Source of Research}^{[6] X Source of Research} Mindfulness is being aware of the immediate situation, in the present moment, instead of thinking about the past or the future. Thinking about the past creates feelings of sadness or regret, and thinking about the future makes you more anxious. Living in the present will increase your sense of contentment. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Try to appreciate the present. You should look for the positive about the events going on around you. For example, if you are at home – you should look at the clear blue sky outside the window. What do you appreciate about that sky? What does it look like? Are there clouds, birds, or planes in the sky?

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Increase cognitive ability. Mindfulness is about increasing your awareness of yourself and the world around you. You can become more conscious by focusing and controlling your attention.

You should take a few moments to look around and be aware of all the objects and people that are near you. Focus on a particular object and pay attention to its appearance – its shape, color, and purpose. Next, tap on it; Is it soft, hard, or rough? Close your eyes and move your hand around it. What feeling does it give you? Cold or warm? Do you notice something new and different about that item that you haven’t seen before?

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Observe your thoughts. Acknowledge the thoughts that come to your mind, like clouds passing through the sky, without judging, denying, or clinging to them. Just allow them to pass through your mind.

When a thought comes up, acknowledge it, and then dismiss it.
One way to get rid of thinking is by imagining. You should close your eyes and visualize a stream with leaves floating in the water. When you have a negative thought, you should put it on the leaf and watch it drift along the stream until it is completely out of your sight.

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Do mindfulness exercises. Mindfulness techniques are a great way to practice mindfulness.

A good mindfulness technique is to take a piece of food (fruit, chocolate, etc.). Instead of putting them right in your mouth and chewing them, you should start by observing its color and texture, and then take small bites. Eat that piece of food slowly and be aware of how it tastes and feels in your mouth.
Take a mindful walk. This means that while walking, you need to pay attention to everything that comes to mind, as well as around you. You can observe your body in action and feel the sensation of movement (in your muscles, arms, and legs).
You can learn more mindfulness exercises online through a google search, or a YouTube video. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Greater Good Magazine Go to Source}

Meditation

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Find a quiet area. Meditation is related to mindfulness. First, you should find a good environment to meditate; it can be a quiet room, a peaceful meadow or sitting by the river in the forest. Separate yourself from the world around you if possible.

This will be quite useful action before going to bed.

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Limit distractions and try to relax. Close the doors and windows, and turn down the harsh lights. Limit noise and sounds of vehicles. You can light an extra scented candle if you wish.

Ask people not to bother you. You can hang a “please do not disturb” sign on the door of the room.
If you want, you can listen to soft, soothing music. ^{[9] X Research Sources} Music with harp, guitar, or piano sounds is very calming. If possible, you should avoid songs with lyrics, as they will distract you and make it harder to concentrate. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Sit in bed, in a chair, in the grass, or on a blanket. You can also sit cross-legged. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Close your eyes and start meditating. You can meditate with your eyes open or closed, but for starters, it’s easier to close your eyes to reduce distractions.

When you start meditating, you shouldn’t think about anything other than peace of mind (whatever that means to you). If wandering images or thoughts begin to appear in your mind, you should use encouraging words to focus or simply refocus your attention on the meditation process.
Mind wandering is normal – don’t be too hard on yourself. Great ideas can arise from a wandering mind.
After you meditate, you should jot down any thoughts or feelings that might be helpful to you or something you’re interested in. Write down dates to review progress.

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Try to imagine or visualize. There are quite a few types of meditation such as visualization or visualization that have been shown to work for some people. ^{[12] X Research Source} You should try to control the image that you envision in your mind. This will help you in your daily life and help you achieve your goals.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a safe place where you can relax and calm down. It could be a beach, a bedroom, or the middle of a garden. Notice how you feel in this place. Is it warm, soft, comfortable? What sound do you hear? See what? Think about the scent in that safe place. You can choose to stay here for a while and when you’re ready, open your eyes. ^{[13] X Research Source} Reflect on how you felt when you were in a safe place. You should use this visualization method every time you are not feeling at peace.
Imagine that you wake up in the morning and a miracle occurs – all of your problems have been solved overnight. Visualize the scenery of the surrounding environment. Where are you? How do you feel? Who is around you? What do you hear? What are you doing? ^{[14] X Research Resources} This measure will help you set your goals and achievements. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Art-based meditation. Art will promote inner peace, helping you to feel more relaxed and satisfied. Focusing on art while meditating will inspire, provide you with a sense of freedom and enjoyment. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Choose a piece of art (painting, statue, etc.) and focus on it for 5 minutes. What can you observe? What emotions appear? Is a story forming in your mind? What are you thinking?
Appreciate that picture and what it means to you. Enjoy it.

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Explore other types of meditation. There are quite a few different types of meditation. The more you explore, the more adept you become at meditation and finding inner peace. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Try meditating on speech or transcendental meditation, where you won’t stop repeating certain words or phrases throughout the meditation.
Yoga. Yoga consists of performing poses that require attention; it will help to increase the feeling of calmness and being present in the present moment.
Qigong is a traditional Chinese remedy that focuses on creating balance through a combination of deep breathing, meditation, and physical activity. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that involves deep breathing with traditional Chinese postures to promote feelings of relaxation and well-being. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Solve problems in the past

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Talk to a therapist. If you have experienced trauma or abuse in the past, it can be difficult for you to work through it to maintain peace of mind. At the same time, it is not easy for you to proceed with this experience without help. If you are experiencing some of the following symptoms, especially if they are interfering with your ability to function in your daily life, you should consider seeing a mental health professional: ^{[20] X Research Source}^{[21] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to Source}

Concerned
Insomnia or change in sleep habits
Irritability or mood swings
Unwanted flashbacks or memories come back
Feeling disconnected or isolated
Feeling “stopped” or emotionless
Depression
Fear or phobia
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feeling threatened or unsafe
Thinking or feeling like you want to harm yourself

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Join a support group. In many cases, sharing feelings and experiences with others can be quite helpful in dealing with past problems, especially if they have experienced similar difficulties. Talking to others about the past and its impact on you will allow you to explore the influence of these experiences. And from there, you will be able to deal with and overcome them to achieve peace of mind. ^{[22] X Research Sources}^{[23] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to Source}

Support groups can be extremely helpful for victims of domestic violence and those struggling with addiction.
You should try to share your feelings, positive experiences, and pain with the support group.
At the same time, you will also find that joining a spiritual group will also be effective. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

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Explore the past through writing. Writing about feelings and past experiences will help you process them. Diary will be a safe place for you to record and explore your feelings without fear of other people’s judgment. ^{[25] X Research Sources} You can also use the journal to look at possible solutions and what you might do in the future.

Just make sure you don’t end up judging yourself. You should show compassion to yourself as you would a close friend. For example, if you’re writing about a painful experience that made you feel unloved, you should avoid making judgments like, “I’m not lovable.” Instead, show your kindness; “This experience is heartbreaking, and this is a completely natural reaction. Maybe I need to seek love and support from others if they don’t stop treating me like this.”

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Change your mind. Often, we learn negative thinking habits from other people in our lives without our knowledge. For example, if your father used to personalize things, you will learn the same thing. You should try to make a note of when you form an “instinctive response” or negative thought. Take a few moments to consider the evidence for your response. ^{[26] X Research Source}

Beware of personalization. It will be difficult for you to have peace of mind when you believe that everything revolves around you. ^{[27] X Research Source} For example, if your child’s teacher says they need help with homework, you might interpret the statement as a personal attack instead of the real meaning. its facts: the statement or fact that your child needs help, and their teacher thinks you can help them. You should remind yourself that most things are not a personal attack, and that everything is not caused by you.
When you have similar, negative, or chaotic thoughts, you should try to find evidence for them. Consider looking at the situation the other way around. Remind yourself that negative experiences will not determine who you are or your future. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

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Set healthy boundaries. Sometimes, our relationships make it difficult for us to achieve peace of mind, especially if they are unhealthy or insecure. It can be hard to establish boundaries with everyone you’ve been in contact with over a long period of time. You can strengthen yourself and find inner peace by setting healthy boundaries for yourself. You should identify your own needs and values and form a course based on them. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

For example, maybe your mother calls you five times a day, even after you’ve finished college, lived on your own, and are no longer under her control. This action will stress you out. You can say to her, “Mom, I’m so grateful that you want to stay in touch with me. But I still have a lot of work to do, and I want to take the time to finish them. Now every call from me will make it more difficult for you. Let’s talk on Saturday, okay? This way we can stay in touch and you can still get everything else done.”

Advice

Create a sacred place where you can go to find inner peace. Use calming images from the world around you, like a sunset, grassland, a starry sky, or religious symbols if you so desire.
Meditate when your life is going too fast. Let’s stop for a few moments. It will brighten your day.

Warning

As you seek inner peace, you will have to find a way to overcome any problems that are preventing you from achieving it.
This is not a quick solution. You need to know that this process will take some time. The more you practice, the easier everything will become.

Steps