Zeenat Merchant Syal is one of those people who sprinkle happiness where ever she goes. Inner peace can bring us back to happiness. Are you looking for that clue, suggestion, or idea that will bring you inner peace? Zeenat shares her tips for inner peace which are simple, doable, yet life-changing.
In times of quietness, our hearts should be like a tree, lifting their branches to heaven to draw down strength which they will need to face the storms that will surely come in life. ~ Salesians of Don Bosco
Peace as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
- a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a: freedom from civil disturbance b: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom <a breach of the peace>
- freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
- harmony in personal relations
- a: a state or period of mutual concord between governments b: a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
- used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell— at peace: in a state of concord or tranquility
When it comes to inner peace, we all automatically think we have it. If you truly ask yourself these very questions — “Am I peaceful NOW?” the answer often confuses us to a point of just forgetting about it.
What is inner peace?
People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within. ~ Ramona L. Anderson
Very simply it’s being without any kind of inner disturbance- mentally and emotionally. Its a state of being where you are completely calm and tranquil. No externals can hinder this state of being.
Now, think about it…do you truly live in a state of peacefulness? Usually, our everyday life takes over our being so totally, that we forget about truly being at peace.
Our monkey mind is constantly jumping..to the point that even when we sleep we see dreams of work or things we need to do…rather than beautiful scenes. Which only means one thing, our days are truly NOT peaceful. It’s not always easy to calm our externals i.e. we are constantly bombarded with news of some kind of violence or something not so positive happening around in the world.
But what you DO have control over is yourself. When we calm our mind, our thoughts, our complete being, we create in and around us a beautiful glow of positivity and peace. This glow works as a shield between our Inner peace and the external violence that surrounds us every day.
Here are some tips or habits which WILL help you to regain your inner peace and get that peaceful inner glow back-
Positively Simple Tips to Inner Peace:
Meditate every day.
Even if its for 5 minutes. Take out the time to breathe and just Be. “I discovered the secret of the sea in meditation upon a dewdrop.” Kahlil Gibran
Engage in daily prayers.
On a regular basis, take out the time to have a heart to heart with The Divine Maker. Share your day, lighten your load in that conversation. You will be amazed at how awesome you feel after it.
Read uplifting books.
Our days are filled with reading newspapers and magazines, which bombard us with information. Not too much of this is actually uplifting to your spirit. Before going to bed, read a nice motivational or inspirational chapter. It calms your mind, uplifts you, and will give you nice peaceful dreams.
Commune with Mother Nature.
Get out for a 5-minute walk or stroll from your workday. Maybe take a short walk in the morning. Open your eyes and notice the green trees, the flowers, the birds, the beautiful sky, the butterflies. You will come back recharged, amazed and so beautifully calm.
Basically, the idea behind these tips is, that in some way, you need to try to remove yourself from the routine of the everyday world that invades your sense of inner peace. These tips help you do just that.
Look within!…The secret is inside you. ~ Hui-neng
What about you? How do you find inner peace in your life? DO you have any tips to share? Please share your wisdom in the comments below.
Zeenat Merchant Syal — is the founder and writer of Positive Provocations where she writes about Healing with Positivity, Love & Happiness!
She holds degrees in, and practices counseling psychology, motivational psychology, spiritual counseling, motivational speaking, holistic health, and naturopathic medicine. Zeenat is a spiritual traveler by passion, an eternal student and researcher in the school of life, and all of its realities, including the fields of metaphysics and New Age, thinking.
Hi Zeenat,
Wow! When you put it like that we don’t get much peace at all really 🙂
I find that journaling helps give me a bit of peace. Something about dumping all of the stuff from my head on to paper seems to give me more clarity, a lighter more peaceful feeling. I know this works because I have many occasions when I don’t journal and the difference is so obvious.
Good post and tips
Hi Keith,
I love journaling too! It is one of those acquired positive habits for sure. I have a gratitude journal and that works wonders on my inner peace on a daily basis. The above tips are practical ways to being yourself in the NOW rather than be trapped by all that is happening around you.
Sometimes peace is just lurking under our surface and we just need to show it the light of day 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful comment here.
Much Love,
Z~
Ah Zeenat. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. That strive for inner peace is such a process! The walking really helps me a lot – especially this time of year.
Hi Leslie,
I love how nature has a way of centering us into our-self and the Divine. I wouldn’t trade my half hour walks of solitude for anything 🙂
Walking is nature is an awesome way to find inner peace. But like you said its a walk we choose to walk everyday…practice makes perfect peace 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment here.
Much Love,
Z~
Thank you, Zeenat, for your inspiration! I love your tips! I, too, try to do things like this on a regular basis but it doesn’t always work every day. Those are the days I feel more frustrated. I agree that we have the control. We just have to use it in a positive way!
Loved the post Zeenat and Cathy!
Darling Betsy,
Life and all its many intricacies have a way of muddling our little heads right 🙂 I know the feeling and agree with you, that there are good days and then there are those God-help-me days. A conscious effort to choose peace regularly brings us back to peace no matter what state we are in.
So glad you liked these tips!
Thank you for your beautiful comment here.
Much Love,
Z~
Hi Zeenat – Glad to see you over here. I do almost everything you say on a daily basis so you would think that I’m the epitome of peace but haha – that is sadly NOT the case. To be in a peaceful state at all times we have to conscious about our state and do some practices which will help us find that peace within.
In addition to all 4 items you mentioned, I find inner peace through concentrated focus on one activity at a time. Peace is also found when facing challenging circumstances and affirming that “this too shall pass”.
Much peace to you Zeenat and a very early happy birthday:)
Oh man Vishnu, you should be mr. peace really !! But jokes apart, you are right, a conscious effort on a daily basis is required and like I mentioned earlier, practice makes perfect peace 😉
Oh and I love early bday wishes…so thank you with a big *bow* 🙂
Much Love,
Z~
I also do loads of service in my life and this gives me peace. Being with people and connecting with them in precious moments when they see themselves through my eyes, brings me more peace than anything else that I do.
Hi Jodi,
That is a wonderful service to give back in that way. Reaching out to others is so often a rewarding experience which brings meaning and peace to our lives. Thank you for stopping by and leaving your insightful comment. Love and gratitude, Cathy
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, Zeenat. I especially find peace in the early morning – my window overlooks distant hills and from that view, I watch the fog roll in (not every morning, of course) – it’s a soothing reminder to breathe and settle in peace. Now I just have to work on touching bases with that feeling throughout the day 🙂 – which I’m trying to do by not multi-tasking so much – we’ll see.
Sounds beautiful Lisa. A view like that always calms me down and brings me into a greater perspective. Multi-tasking does take its toll, but I know that when you set your mind to something, you accomplish it. Thanks for leaving your wonderful comment. With love and gratitude, Cathy
Man, I’m convinced emptiness – “voiditis” – is the numero uno malady facing wo/mankind. And, yes, the search for a measure of peace and comfort (can’t bring myself to say “happiness”) becomes all too sophisticated. For sure, it’s an outward search. But the effort needs to be turned within. Problem is, spending much time in our souls can be one dicey proposition. Too often, so many things we’d just as soon avoid. Here’s to having the courage to turn inward – and stay there for a time. I’m thinking there’s much to like. Thank you, Zeenat, for a good and relevant piece…
Bill
Love your message, Bill. Spending time with ourselves and really understanding our inner thoughts and feelings can bring us that calm and peace that as you said, so many of us are looking for. Slowing down and letting go of some of the “busyness” can make that needed difference. Thanks for leaving your wonderful comment. With love and gratitude, Cathy
What a beautiful post and being named, Zeenat. It seems I can never get enough of, “Oh yeah…that’s the way we do it.” I remember “waking up” in a sensory deprivation tank once in a “white light” experience of “I am.” An honest-ta-god, “It doesn’t matter if I ever get out of the tank or ever do anything again…I Am.” Something happened/shifted…
And it is such a trip to think that it’s (I Am) just a few heartbeats away when I’m caught up in it all. I have a morning and evening centering practice as the main events of my day and like Einstein said, “I want to know God’s thoughts and the rest [of life]…just details.”
Another lovely visit to Cathy’s blog for nourishment and inner peace. Many thanks.
Hi Zeenat,
I just came across your blog yesterday through Vadya’s blog and again today. A sign I have something to learn from you 🙂 Yes, at times even my dreams are overactive. I try to practice all of the above and I have removed TV & papers from my life for some time now; that really helps, reading only what I choose and which reflects good news rather than bad. A guided meditation at night such as heart opening, chakra cleansing helps end the day on a good note. I look forward to reading more from you:)
Hi Caroline,
Welcome! I love the idea of removing TV and papers from your life. That would definitely be a way to let go of the constant messages that can contribute to the stress in our lives. I appreciate your idea of filling your life with good news. It is better for the soul and keeps us happier than becoming anxious over things that we have no control. Thanks for sharing your positive ideas with us! I appreciate it!
A very nice read ! very informative and practical.
I agree that to live a happier life, we need to perceive things as how we would want to feel. And by realizing our inner-peace we can live in a much more harmonious and simple life. Your simple steps helps a lot in realizing this.
I also would love to recommend my work about how one can change from within and become a better person. Just please visit my site at http://www.iamthechangeiseek.org.
Thank you and God bless us!