Peace of Mind: How to Find and Keep It
Maskot / Getty Images
Do you often feel stressed, worried, insecure, uneasy, or simply too busy to be at peace? In a chaotic world, finding peace of mind can sometimes be hard.
Also described as inner calm, tranquility, or a feeling of contentment, peace of mind can help you feel at ease and centered amidst the chaos.
This article explores what peace of mind looks like and how you can find it and keep it.
What Peace of Mind Looks Like in Daily Life
These are some of the signs and characteristics of peace of mind:
Feeling comfortable in your skin and at ease with yourself
Being able to take minor day-to-day stressors in your stride
Being content with your life and accepting circumstances the way they are
Feeling confident that you can manage anything that comes your way
Being empathetic toward others and being able to build healthy relationships
Not being dependent on others’ approval for your happiness
Having a calm and positive outlook toward life
Related:How Positive Affect Combats Stress
What Happens When You Don't Have Peace of Mind?
If you do not have peace of mind, you may experience:
Stress: You may constantly be stressed and feel incapable of coping with everything on your plate. You may often feel physically and emotionally drained. Minor setbacks can feel overwhelming.
Insecurity: You may not feel confident and constantly doubt yourself and your abilities. You may look to others for approval and let your happiness be dictated by them.
Anxiety: You may constantly feel worried or anxious about something, which can make you feel restless or tense. You may also experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation, nausea, tremors, and sweating.
Depression: You may feel unhappy about your life and experience feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, or hopelessness. You may find yourself withdrawing from others and not wanting to do things you once enjoyed. You may also feel fatigued, have difficulty sleeping, and experience weight changes.
Conflict: You may find yourself experiencing tension and conflict in your relationships at home, work, school, or among your social circle.
Related:How to Make Your Home More Peaceful
Why Can't I Find Peace of Mind?
These are some reasons why it can be hard to find inner peace:
Mental health conditions: You may find it harder to feel calm if you have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.
Difficult circumstances: It can be hard to feel peaceful if you're experiencing difficult circumstances, such as the loss of a job or the loss of your home in the wake of a natural disaster.
Stress or anxiety: You may also have trouble finding inner peace if something is stressing you out or upsetting you. It can be helpful to identify it, take steps to resolve it, or accept that you can’t change it. Processing your emotions about it will help you feel more peaceful.
If you feel you cannot cope independently, visiting a mental healthcare provider for support can be helpful.
Ways to Obtain a Peace of Mind
These are some steps that can help you find peace of mind.
Reframe Your Negative Thoughts
Often, our biggest critic is the nagging voice in our head that’s telling us negative things. Negative thoughts can steal your peace of mind and make it hard for you to feel relaxed and content.
It can be helpful to challenge negative thoughts and practice reframing them. For example, you could tell yourself:
“This is a difficult situation, but things won’t always be like this. I can get through this.”
“This is a challenging task, but I know I can do it if I put in the hard work.”
“I’m not perfect, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.”
"Mistakes happen, and I'm learning from them to improve in the future."
Accept Things You Can’t Change
Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes we are faced with difficult situations we can’t change, no matter how much we may want to. For instance, a loved one may be diagnosed with a serious health condition, a close friend may move away, a relationship may not work out, or a beloved pet may pass away.
It can be difficult to face things that make us feel upset, stressed, or uncomfortable, but it’s essential to do so to gain peace of mind. Facing them head-on can help you grieve for your loss and eventually learn to accept the circumstances.
Avoiding the situation, pretending things are different, or harboring anger and bitterness will not help you gain peace of mind.
Don’t Link Your Happiness to External Circumstances
We sometimes seek inner peace from external sources. For instance, you may think: “I’ll be happy when I get a promotion,” or “I’ll be able to relax once tax season is over.”
However, it’s important to understand that you can’t link your happiness to external factors beyond your control. You have to find it within yourself and apply a happy, relaxed, and positive attitude to everything you do.
Rather than waiting for things to change in order to improve your mindset, changing your mindset can help improve things for you.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care can take many forms, depending on your needs:
Physical: Physical self-care involves taking care of your body by ensuring adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise.
Emotional: Emotionally speaking, self-care could look like setting boundaries with people in your life to protect yourself. It can also mean shutting down negative self-talk.
Social: Spending time with loved ones is an important part of self-care. Social self-care can also involve cutting out people or social activities that don't fulfill you.
Intellectual: Intellectual self-care can involve reading more books you enjoy, doing the crossword every day, or making time for a new hobby.
Spiritual: Spiritual self-care can involve meditation, being mindful of the present moment, listening to music, or practicing the religion you believe in.
Personal: This form of self-care involves doing things you enjoy, such as walking in nature, drawing yourself a relaxing bath, or cooking a meal you like.
If peace of mind constantly eludes you and you often feel stressed, anxious, or worried, it may be helpful to visit a mental healthcare provider for support.
Related:Friday Fix: 5 Self-Care Mistakes That Leave You Emotionally Exhausted
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “peace of mind” or “piece of mind?”
"Peace of mind" and "piece of mind" are two phrases that sound similar but have different meanings. While “peace of mind” is a feeling of inner peace, giving someone a “piece of your mind” means rebuking someone you are angry with and setting them straight.
Is “inner peace” and “peace of mind” the same?
Yes, “inner peace” is the same as “peace of mind.”
Read Next:22 Mental Health Apps for Stress, Anxiety, and More
