Finding peace is achievable goal
I recently returned from a trip to the beach that gave me the ability to recharge and rejuvenate. When I am there I feel a sense of inner calm and peace that I need to let go of all my worries and stresses. It is also a place that I am able to achieve a clarity that allows me to put those things that have accumulated in my mind and things I have or have not done in my life into the proper perspective. Often we find ourselves in situations that seem to be unfair, push our tolerance or patience and cause us to feel attacked or hopeless. We arm ourselves with anger, frustration and a need to fight back, a need to stand up for ourselves and family at any cost. As I found myself releasing the many stressors of the past few months, I realized that there are things we can all do to help us achieve a calm and peace in our lives.
We spend so much time working and living life inside that we forget the feelings that can come from just being in nature. If you feel overwhelmed, take a walk outside. Enjoy the sights, the sounds and the peace. If you have a lot on your mind and you feel like your thoughts are out of control, a few minutes of solitude can help you find peace. Simply isolate yourself from outside interruptions, sit back, close your eyes and clear your mind of every thought — literally think of nothing.
Think outside yourself and care about others. When you genuinely care about other people, kindness comes out. It can be family and friends or strangers, but any act of kindness can ease you toward peace. There is peace and great wisdom in thinking and caring about other people. Be aware that the world does not revolve around you.
Stay true to your beliefs and never lose faith and hope. People that are deeply devoted to their beliefs find peace and happiness which in turn increases life expectancy and improves quality of life. Hope and faith are something you can never afford to lose.
Continue learning and enjoy the process. Realize that no one knows how to handle every situation and accept the fact that we need to be open to learning every day, which helps us to find peace. Embrace the idea that you might learn something new every day and be aware that you will grow as a person. This will in turn provide you with a great feeling of peace.
Live in the present — most of the time we are preoccupied or worried about the past or the future. It is important to learn to accept what you cannot change. Living in the present moment erases all such thoughts. The past cannot be changed and the future has not happened. In the present moment there is only stillness, and it is within that stillness that you can uncover peace.
Serenity isn’t freedom from the storm; it is peace within the storm. — Anonymous
Brenda-Lee Duarte, executive director at LifeLine Counseling Center, 1033 W. Broadway Ave, Maryville, 981-7400, is a licensed professional counselor and therapist.
