The 7 Steps to Inner Peace
THE SOURCE
We all seek it and all need it. In the times we live in, (faced with struggles, corrupted leaders, family feuds, etc.), we need to find our inner peace. We need to find a space and place where we can refocus our attention on the positive aspects of life. One thing I know for sure is we need to go to the source of our inner peace. God is the source we seek and His Word leads us to wisdom, comfort, direction and inner peace.
FORGIVENESS
It’s important to forgive ourselves and forgive others who might have hurt us in our past. We also need to realize God forgave us for our sins. Given the knowledge that an unwillingness to forgive can be an obstacle on our path of peace, we can find ways to reconcile with family and friends. We also can let go of people who bring us down and take our peace away.
RELAXATION
Relaxation is another way of gaining peace. In our relaxed state, we can focus better on the things that bring us peace. Relaxation helps us find that place and space to reconnect with God and with ourselves. Some might find relaxation in taking a long bath with candles and soft music. Some might find it in yoga or a relaxing form of meditation. Some might just like to relax on the beach, go for a walk in nature or just be quiet and still for a length of time, concentrating on their breathing. All these activities clear our hearts and minds of negativity.
SELF ACCEPTANCE
I find this to be an important step to finding inner peace. We need to know who we are, accept who we are and love who we are. If we seek to be someone else, or live outside of our own personality or character, we loose our identity. We were created to be the unique person we are, with our own unique gifts and talents. Sure, we might have a lot of singers out there, but we have a unique way of portraying our voices. Love who you are and appreciate your own uniqueness.
DISCIPLINE
This is something we often reject, for we find it confining. When we fail to accept discipline, we reject true freedom. Freedom is not found in doing what we like, when we like or how we like. Although this sounds like freedom, freedom is found in being disciplined to make the right choices in life. Rebellion is not freedom, unless it is to rebel against unrighteousness. Discipline is having an organized mind and a steadfast heart, to know the truth and act upon it. This gives us peace.
A GENEROUS SPIRIT
When we know that God is our provider, we can be inspired towards generosity. We live our lives not seeking what we can get out of life, but what we can give to life. We see others’ needs beyond our own. It is in giving that we receive. If we show patience towards others, we receive patience back. It is the law of attraction-when we give a positive vibe, we receive positivity. It can be applied in our finances, in our love or in our faith. This gives us inner peace.
OUR FAITH
Our faith also plays an important role in finding our inner peace. When our faith is placed on what we can do and achieve in our own strength, we misplace our faith. When we experience God’s faithfulness and grace, our faith in God grows. Then we realize our faith is based on our trust in God, and His strength to help us achieve the impossible. Then our confidence is based on what God can do in and through us. We have inner peace in this knowledge.
IN CONCLUSION
Inner peace is obtainable in many ways, but the true source of our peace derives from our love;
our love for God and for others. Mostly it derives from God, who is love.
I John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
When we find God, we find deep inner peace.
