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12 Habits to Build a Peaceful Life
Hey everyone, and welcome to TopThink. Today, we will learn 12 habits to build a peaceful life. Now, let’s begin.
We can’t only rely on others for our own happiness. Especially in today’s wild, ever-changing world, true peace must come from within. Fortunately, inner peace is a state of mind that can be cultivated over time through our own choices and actions. A huge part of cultivating inner peace is understanding your place in the world. Recognize that you are one cog in the very large, complicated wheel of society and the universe. And you don’t know it all – far from it. Approach every day like the beginner you are, always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and rediscover the beauty of existence. Leave yourself open to new possibilities and don’t let the frustrations of life bring your attitude down. So, without further ado, here are 12 habits to build a peaceful life.
#1 Get Outside
Humans are animals – and we belong in nature! Get outside and enjoy the fresh air to cultivate a sense of peace and oneness with the world around you. Communing with nature is good for your body and soul – and there’s science to prove it. Studies have shown that spending at least 30 minutes per week in nature lowers the chance of developing depression and can even lower your blood pressure, reducing the physical and emotional effects of stress.
Make a point to enjoy a little green space every day. Try walking or biking to run your errands, or take a peaceful walk when you wake up. Consider taking your work phone calls outdoors, or enjoy your cup of coffee at a sidewalk café in the sunshine. Rather than binging TV, spend a few hours on the weekend hiking, swimming, or having a picnic.
#2 Pursue Realistic Goals
A sense of accomplishment can help lead to a more peaceful existence. Be sure to set realistic, achievable goals for yourself. If you are constantly struggling – or constantly failing – you’ll be left with a nagging feeling of dissatisfaction or discontent. Think about what you really want – what things will make life most meaningful to you. Then create a few actionable steps to achieve it. That word “actionable” is key. Your goals should be something you can actually accomplish, even it requires a little bit of a stretch. Then you will soon have the satisfaction and inner peace of following your life’s intended path.
Remember, too, that people change. You should periodically reevaluate your goals and be willing to let go of those that no longer serve the person you are today. There’s no shame in changing your plans. You only have one life – so make the most of it!
#3 Move Your Body
Many of us live sedentary lives, moving from bed to chair to car to desk and back again. We’re not using the full range of motion our bodies were made for. We’re not living to our full physical potential. Research has shown that exercise is not only good for your body, but also leads to greater feelings of peace and overall wellbeing. Even a little bit of regular exercise can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, giving you that happy, peaceful inner glow. And knowing that you’re getting physically leaner and stronger will also ease worries about your own physical health.
You don’t have to become an Olympic athlete to feel good in your body. Just start small, with a few minutes of daily stretching or yoga, a 20-minute walk, or gentle body weight exercises at home.
#4 Write in a Journal
Regular journaling can help you process your emotions and organize your thoughts. A daily freewriting practice, where you sit down to write with no structure or goal, can help reveal inner thoughts you may not even have been aware of. List making is also a great way to keep yourself organized and give your day a sense of structure and purpose. You can start your day with a to-do list, and check things off as you go for a sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day, write down a summary of your day. Not only will it help you remember and process what happened, but it will be a wonderful keepsake for you and for loved ones later in life. You can even experiment with creative writing, poetry, doodling, and fictional storytelling. Not with any goal in mind, but just art for art’s sake. It’s one of the many joys of being human!
#5 Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
It’s a cliché, but it’s true – try not to let the little things get you down. Daily life is full of tiny annoyances, like a rude customer, a flat tire, a stubbed toe, or a frustrating conversation with a friend. But in the grand scheme of life, these are just little drops of water in a much larger pond – hopefully, a mostly peaceful one!
Do your best to keep everything in perspective and not let little grievances ruin your entire day. This includes choosing your battles wisely. You don’t have to show up to every fight you’re invited to. Some of us love an argument or are driven by the need to be right. Not everything has to be a competition – it only leads to angst and discontent. Save your energy for when it really matters, and you’ll live a more peaceful existence.
#6 Practice Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness, the art of focusing on the present without interpretation or judgement. Regularly meditating can keep your stress low, your heart rate down, and your brain focused on what really matters. Staying present helps you avoid the uncertainties of the future and the regrets of the past; instead, living in the beauty of here and now. Spend a few minutes a day sitting in silence, trying to clear your mind. Acknowledge difficult thoughts, then actively let them go. You might even focus on one word or mantra to center your spirit.
#7 Cultivate Gratitude
Life is truly a gift. Why not be thankful for it? Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your daily life. Be happy for what is going right in your life – no matter how big or how small. Make a list each day of just three things that you are thankful for, no matter how minor. Challenge yourself to make sure the list is different every day. You might surprise yourself with how many happy things you can come up with! And incorporate gratitude into your daily interactions. Send a thank you note to a friend, say “thank you” out loud, and don’t shy away from compliments.
#8 Focus on What You Can Control
There is only so much that we can control. A lot of things happen to us, or around us, and there’s nothing we can do about it. The traditional serenity prayer among many religions and social groups is: “Give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what can be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.” If you’re frustrated with your life, take stock of what is bothering you. After you’ve made a list, note which of those items you can control, or at least which ones you can have an impact on. Then pursue those changes. And just as importantly, do what you can to let the others go.
Remember that usually things work out in the end. You can take responsibility for your power while also recognizing the limits of what you can control. Don’t get trapped in a cycle of ineffectiveness.
#9 Eat Well
Nourishing your body is also a way to nourish your soul. Eating well keeps your body healthy and strong, and your mind sharp. Plus, it feels good and is simply a pleasurable activity. Cooking a meal from start to finish is also a lovely way to practice mindfulness and to connect with others if you do it with a group.
Meal prep in advance so you don’t have to worry about cooking at the end of a long day – it will give you peace of mind. Focus on lean proteins, leafy greens, healthy fats, and whole grains. These are the foundations of a diet that will boost your health and wellbeing.
#10 Get Enough Sleep
It’s amazing how a decent night of sleep can totally change your outlook on life. Most adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Sleep is restorative to both body and mind, allowing our physical systems to recharge and our memories to solidify. Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day, to train your body and mind for rest. Make sure your bedroom is cool, dark, and calmly decorated. Avoid screentime before bed and consider a calming activity like reading or a warm bath to help yourself get sleepy.
#11 Live Simply
There’s a reason the Buddhist religion is so popular – one of its core tenets is to relinquish unnecessary material possessions, focusing only on the essentials. Keep your space well organized and free of clutter. Don’t endlessly consume what you don’t need. It’s not only better for your physical and psychological wellbeing – not to mention your wallet – but it’s also more environmentally-friendly. And knowing you’re doing what you can to live a sustainable existence is bound to instill feelings of peace with your world.
#12 Be Yourself
At the end of the day, you are the person you need to answer to. If you don’t love yourself, how are you going to love anyone else? So many of us are unsettled because we are not living the lives we were born to live. Be honest about who you are and pursue your desires and dreams to the fullest. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Embrace solitude. Develop a healthy skepticism of authority – you can still be respectful without letting others dictate your every move. You will find yourself blessed with the peace of mind that comes with knowing and loving exactly who you are.
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