Inner peace: what it is and 5 tips on how to achieve it
The concept of inner peace it is often used informally in all kinds of contexts. Although it is an idea that is usually associated with some Eastern traditions linked to Buddhism and its idea of enlightenment, there is also a secular interpretation of this phenomenon. One that can be approached from psychology leaving behind the religious connotations of the term, and that has to do with a way of living the life that many people aspire to achieve.
In this article we will briefly see what inner peace and what we know about how to achieve that mental state .
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What is inner peace?
Inner peace is a cognitive and emotional state linked to a feeling of well-being and calmness, which in turn defines the way in which we behave. This idea has its roots in certain Eastern philosophies of life , linked to religions such as Buddhism and Taoism, which are characterized by vindicating the mentality of non-action.
Just as the Western mentality is characterized by wanting to transform the environment so that it adapts to human interests, in Asia a culture of denial has prevailed. try not to deviate from the natural and humble ways of acting , so as not to alter the order of things.
Thus, inner peace in its traditional sense is a reflection of the order in which we should ideally live: an expression of the fact that we find a harmony in our way of perceiving the environment and, consequently, in our way of acting and of think. Of course, each religious tradition has defined it in its own way, but in general they all share that emphasis on non-action.
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Your relationship with desire
Sometimes internal peace is conceptualized erroneously, defining it as the absence of worries or fears, that is, dissociating it from any negative mental disposition related to fears and anxiety. However, traditionally, inner peace has not been defined as the absence of these factors with a negative emotional impact. In addition, it is characterized because in it there are neither great desires nor, in general, psychological tensions that push us to act on our environment pursuing a specific goal.
How to develop this psychological state of well-being
Internal peace can be associated with well-being and with the feeling that there are no important conflicts to resolve in our immediate environment. With this in mind, the best measures to develop inner peace are the following.
1. Lead a healthy lifestyle
It is impossible to feel good psychologically if we lead a lifestyle that wears our health. Therefore, it is necessary to be clear that you have to eat a healthy and balanced diet , you have to exercise moderately on a regular basis, and you have to sleep the corresponding hours so that, among other things, our nervous system regenerates.
2. Solve your fundamental needs
To reach inner peace, it is necessary to have attended to the basic needs , those that have to do with having a material and constant livelihood to live: a home, food, relationships and other provisions that are vital, such as access to energy, ways to regulate the temperature in a way that adapts to it, etc. .
Therefore, many people need to solve their economic situation before considering achieving that psychological well-being. Trying to reach inner peace in the middle of poverty, as well as being ineffective, trivializes the importance of minimal materials that dignify human life.
- Maybe you're interested: "Maslow's Pyramid: the hierarchy of human needs"
3. Avoid unnecessary dramas
Much of the daily concerns of human beings are totally illusory problems created by oneself. For example, the need to please everyone, or to follow the work trajectory that others expect from oneself, or the obsession to get as close as possible to the canons of beauty ... Give up those artificially imposed goals it is a liberating act that brings us closer to inner peace.
4. Reconcile yourself with your imperfections
Perfection only exists in mathematics. The realization is characterized by the imperfect, and as part of it, you should not expect to fit perfectly into the molds of what is considered ideal . Be aware that no matter how much we change, we will never be totally perfect, it makes us more sensible and able to adapt to the circumstances, but it also makes us prone to find ourselves at peace with ourselves.
5. Do not obsess about the idea of revenge
Damaging those who harm us turns us into slaves of a vicious circle of attacks that sooner or later makes us look only at the negative side of life. Forgiving and letting go of old offenses is the best way to emerge reinforced from these experiences, given that it is the ultimate proof of maturity. It's no use embarking on the mission to punish constantly for the simple fact of doing it.
