The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to protect your peace.
You see, there’s no such thing as an easy life. We’ll always have setbacks, challenges and disappointments. There are days where everything seems to fall into place, and other days when you can’t seem to catch a break.
The difficult times are when you probably need to be more conscious about protecting your peace.
As a mom of 2 toddlers, will a full time career and online business, it’s important for me to protect my peace.
Do I always nail it? Nope!
But I’ve learned a thing or two over the years that have helped me keep my cool and maintain a sense of peace when life gets hard.
If you feel like you’re constantly on a rollercoaster of emotions, stick with me. It’s time to learn how to protect your peace, guard your heart and live a happier and purposeful life.
In this blog post, I’ll share the tips and strategies that I’ve found to be most helpful in maintaining inner peace through challenging situations.
Defining Peace
For something that most of us talk about and desire, peace of mind can be quite an elusive concept.
For me, protecting your peace is all about finding a calm and quiet place within yourself, despite what’s going on around you. It’s about maintaining a positive mindset, even when things aren’t going your way.
Why is it important to protect your peace?
Because I believe it’s the key to a happy and fulfilling life.
The Bible says to “Guard your heart with all diligence because out of it flows the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
What I believe to be true is that the inner mind affects everything that goes on in our lives. We can’t control the circumstances we’ll face. The only thing we can control is ourselves.
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
Epictetus
When you protect your peace, you’re taking ownership of the situation around you. You don’t allow your emotions to be swayed by circumstance.
In doing this, you not only taking care of your mental health, but you’re also setting yourself up for success.
10 ways to Protect Your Peace
1. Know What You Want
The first step in the pursuit of peace is to have a clear understanding of what you want (and don’t want) in your life.
It can be helpful to do some journaling and self reflection to identify your values and goals. These can give you a sense of purpose and direction in your daily life.
When you’re clear on your vision and taking intentional action daily, you feel more at peace.
2. Establish Boundaries With Those Around You
Establishing clear boundaries is another crucial part of protecting your peace.
Boundaries help you honour your needs, feelings, goals, and values.
When you set boundaries, you let others know what is and isn’t acceptable to you.
This can be especially crucial when it comes to toxic people in your life who drain your energy and positivity. Communicate your boundaries assertively but compassionately, and surround yourself with people who respect and support your need for inner peace.
3. Learn to Say No to unnecassary commitments
It’s difficult to say no, especially if you’re a people pleaser, but if you want to protect your peace, you also need to learn to say “no” without guilt or hesitation when commitments or situations don’t align with your values or priorities.
Recognize that your time and energy are limited resources, and you need to allocate them wisely.
Setting boundaries around your time will allow you to have more time for the things that matter most to you.
You’ll have more time for self care, relaxation and pursuing your hobbies.
Check out HuffPost for more information on why saying no can be a healthy decision.
4. Declutter your space
Your physical surroundings can have a big impact on your mental state.
When you have a cluttered space, it can be overwhelming and stressful.
When I’m starting to feel overwhelmed, one of the things that I take a look at is my physical environment.
Decluttering and making your physical surroundings peaceful can help you feel more organized and calm on the inside too.
5. Disconnect from Technology
While technology has made our lives more convenient, it can also be a significant source of stress and distraction.
Constant notifications, social media comparisons, and information overload can create mental clutter and hinder our peace of mind.
Set aside designated periods each day to disconnect from technology. Turn off unnecessary notifications, create tech-free zones in your home, and engage in activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading, painting, or spending quality time with loved ones.
Embracing these tech-free moments will allow you to recharge and reconnect with yourself.
6. Spend Time Outdoors
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something extermely therapeutic about just being outside.
Whether you’re taking a stroll through nature or sitting outside enjoying the fresh air, being outdoors can be incredibly calming.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out websites like AllTrails.com or HikingProject.com to find hiking trails near you. These websites can provide you with information about the length and difficulty of each trail, as well as reviews from other hikers.
7. Choose Your Influences
The people and environments we surround ourselves with significantly impact our mental and emotional state.
Take a conscious approach to curating your influences.
They say that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
If this is true, you need to surround yourself with positive and supportive people who uplift and inspire you. Minimize interactions with toxic or negative people who drain your energy and disrupt your peace.
A lot of times that means ignoring people, but this is often necessary to maintain your peace.
Similarly, the type of content you consume can impact your inner wellbeing.
If you want a peace filled life, you need to be intentional about what you consume. Don’t binge watch the news if you know it’s filled with negative news stories. Don’t spend all lusting after a stangers life on social media.
Make sure that you consume content that’s encouraging, inspiring and leaves you feeling more peaceful.
8. Meditate
Meditation is a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety.
When you meditate, you essentially just focus your breath and mind for a period of time.
Meditation can help you to achieve a state of calmness and relaxation.
There are many different types of meditation, but the most common is mindfulness meditation.
9. Focus on the Present Moment
When you’re feeling stressed or anxious, it’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts about the past or worries about the future.
By focusing on the present moment, you can calm your mind and reduce your anxiety.
One way to do this is by practicing mindfulness throughout your day.
When you’re doing something, focus all of your attention on that task. For example, if you’re washing the dishes, focus on the feel of the water, the sound of the dishes clinking together, and the smell of the soap.
By focusing on the present moment, you can reduce your stress and live a more peaceful life. This is something Eckhart Tolle talks about in his book- The Power of Now.
10. Prayer
As a believer, one of the main ways that I chose to protect my peace is through prayer.
Prayer can serve as a grounding practice, allowing you to centre your thoughts, emotions, and intentions. Through prayer, you can release stress, worries, and anxieties, and reconnect with a deeper sense of peace and serenity.
Prayer also provides a means to seek guidance and clarity when faced with difficult decisions or challenges. Through prayer, you can tap into your intuition and invite divine wisdom into your life. By surrendering your concerns and questions to a higher power, you create space for insight, inspiration, and peace of mind. Prayer can help you find solace in knowing that you are not alone in your journey and that there is a higher purpose guiding your path.
One of the greatest sources of unrest and anxiety is the desire for control over every aspect of our lives. Prayer offers an opportunity to surrender this need for control and trust in something greater than ourselves. As you release your worries and fears in prayer, you allow room for acceptance and surrender. By acknowledging that there are certain things beyond your control, you free yourself from unnecessary stress and find peace in embracing the flow of life.
Final Thoughts
Remember, protecting your peace is a personal journey. It takes time and effort to develop the skills to do it effectively.
Start with just one of these tips and build on each one and see how your life can be transformed.
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