Stop Fighting with Your Thoughts…
We all say we’re looking for happiness. We often it’s what we want more than anything – for ourselves and for others. However, I often think it goes deeper than just happiness we’re seeking. I think we’re seeking PEACE as much as anything else.
After all, how can you possibly attain happiness if you aren’t at peace?
When any variety of strife or conflict is going on in our world, we crave peace like a teenager craves pizza. This strife can come from a number of places:
- family members
- news
- society
- co-workers
- work
- school
- debt/bills
- friends
We often even create our own strife (as if there isn’t enough already) by worrying, judging, criticizing, and creating expectations that are higher than any human can possibly reach.
Truth be told, we often put as big a dent in PEACE as anyone.
Peace of mind is a beautiful thing. It’s such a beautiful thing that I want to take the next few minutes with you, if you’ll allow me to. I’d love to help you find out, first of all, if you currently are in a peaceful state of mind. Second of all, if you are not, I’d like to help you take a step in the right direction.
Peace of Mind Quiz
To find out how peaceful a place your mind is at this moment, ask yourself the following questions:
- How quickly do you fall asleep at night. Barring “sleep obstacles” (flat pillow, barking dog, crying baby, aches and pains, etc), does it take you longer than 30 minutes to drift off to sleep?
- Are you able to concentrate fully on one task at a time or does another one butt in out of order?!
- If you were to hop in your car and drive for 2 hours, would you be able to ride with yourself in silence or would you require a loud radio to drown out your thoughts?
- If you were to set aside 10 minutes to pray, would you feel too overwhelmed to even know where to begin?
These are just a few questions – and they’re pretty darn unscientific, at that – but they’ll give you an idea of just how peaceful a place your mind is to visit right now. You look like a very logical person to me (after all, you’re on Self Help Daily – that makes you brilliant), so I won’t talk down to you by interpreting your answers. You know, by now, if the country of your mind is at peace or at war.
If you are in a peaceful state of mind, I couldn’t be happier for you! Whatever you’re doing in your life to bring balance to your world and to calm storms before they claim you, keep it up. Don’t fall off the wayside and don’t let down your guard. Stay steady and never, ever take peace of mind for granted.
If, after answering the questions, you realize that your mind isn’t as peaceful as you’d like it to be, keep reading. I won’t keep you long, I promise.
{Continued below the affirmation…}
My peace of mind is not disturbed by things beyond my control.
How to Create More Peace in Your Life
I’ve promised not to keep you long, and for me, limiting my words is tough, so I’m going to simply leave these tips with you. You can flesh them out for yourself.
- Pray. I view my prayer life as my own personal ministry. I pray throughout the day and find that it brings more peace to me than anything. Knowing that God is with you, no matter where you are or what you’re going through is priceless.
- Ease up on worrying! Easier said than done, I know, but you will never have peace if you never stop worrying. Worrying never accomplishes anything and, worst of all, it’s a slippery slope. Once you start, it’s all downhill. If that’s not bad enough, people around you will start thinking of you as a worry wart and when you actually have a legitimate worry, they won’t listen! Having expectations that are too high is one of the biggest roadblocks to both peace and happiness. Stop over-expecting and over-thinking. Live your life.
- Affirmations are a positive-ly wonderful way to reaffirm the attitude you desire. Use the following “Peace of Mind” affirmation daily: My peace of mind is not disturbed by things beyond my control. For the most success, an affirmation addresses the situation as though it is already in place. Don’t say, “I don’t want my peace of mind to be disturbed…” or even “I won’t let my peace of mind be disturbed…” Say it is NOT disturbed! Repeat this affirmation often throughout the day, and not just when it’s needed.
- Carve out time each day for bliss. What’s bliss? Anything you enjoy that puts you in a complete state of happiness. Maybe it’s watching sports on tv or playing with your cat. Maybe it’s putting on your favorite robe and reading a great mystery by a favorite author. Maybe it’s watching your favorite drama on television. Whatever it is that TAKES you away from the noise in your head and MAKES you forget the noises were ever there in the first place… that’s your personal bliss and you need daily doses. That’s an order.
- Enjoy a good laugh every chance you get. Try to see the humor in all situations. It’s all but impossible for a war to take place in your mind when you’re having a good laugh.
Life isn’t always easy, but we are terribly guilty of making it harder than it has to be.
Like happy homes, peaceful minds don’t just happen – they have to be created. The payoff is truly worth the effort. I hope you’ll take several steps today in a more peaceful direction.
Wishing you a mind that’s more peaceful than you ever dreamed of,
~ Joi (“Joy”)