Inner Peace. In these times of crazy schedules, we need it more than ever. 

She eased into the peace, enjoying the buzz and letting nothing else tamper with the moment. For the first time in a very long two years, she stepped into a new arena, one filled with lovable creatures, as gentle as puppies, and at her feet, purple, pink and red flowers growing in tandem with the wild grasses. – The Dance

Speaking of peace

I’ve blogged recently about the importance of setting priorities and finding purpose in life. One element of these that I think is important for me to point out, however, is that it will do no good to pursue purpose and goals if, on the way there, we burn ourselves out.

The process of fulfilling a dream requires a lot of stamina. Nothing can be left up to luck, which means, we must persist if we want to experience the thrill of achievement. The question I have for you is, what is the cost factor in achieving purpose and goals? Is it worth it? And if so, what are your strategies to make sure you’re balanced and focused on your inner peace as you make progress?

We need inner peace

Being alive is not a given. We know this. Yet, we tend to play with the odds more than we should. On pursuit of bigger and better we often tend to neglect the very thing we will need to help us push through, and that’s our health – a direct byproduct of inner peace. We can’t afford to take our inner peace, our health, and ultimately our life for granted.

Protect inner peace

One of the greatest things we can do for our health is to protect our mind. This requires a finger on the pulse to our inner peace. If we spend our life chasing dreams without a break to rejuvenate, we run the risk of never getting to our destination. We are not a machine. We require regular check-ins to keep ourselves balanced and at our finest. A body can deal with abuse for a while, but not for the long-term.

Part of our success plan should involve creating a game plan for inner peace. Be proactive with this, so when the opportunities start coming your way, you’re prepared to thrive. Inner peace isn’t something you can toss aside and focus on when, and only when, free time happens to leak into your busy pursuit.

I’m here to tell you that free time, unless it’s scheduled, is not ever going to come knocking on our door. You must carve it out and focus on developing a state of being that is productive and nurturing. 

Your body needs rest. It needs time to reflect and absorb the shock of hard work. It needs time to readjust itself and realign with positive energy. Without inner peace, you’re opening up yourself to disease, burnout, depression, anxiety, and all sorts of debilitating factors that will force you off the track to your dreams.

The Benefits of Inner Peace:

• Helps keep things in perspective
• We enjoy a deeper understanding of ourselves and others
• Helps us discover our purpose
• Increases the synchronicity in our life
• Resolves phobias & fears
• Increases creativity
• Improves relationships
• Helps our minds to age at slower rate
• We’re able to react more quickly and more effectively to stressful events
• It harmonizes our endocrine system
• It relaxes our nervous system
• We enjoy enhanced energy, strength and vigor

Strategies to Obtaining Inner Peace

Accept what is happening

Life will toss you twists and turns. We have no choice but to deal with them. What we resist, persists. So, embrace these curve balls as they come, and work through them.

Surround yourself with people of good character

If you want to be lifted into greatness, associate with people who are doing great things. We are who we hang with, so choose your circle of influencers carefully. They can bring you up or down.

Pause and breathe

Take five minutes every hour and breathe. You will refresh yourself, and slow down just long enough to feel alive and enjoy the moment.

Spend time in nature 

Water, trees, flowers, sand, and the sky all vibrate at an energy level that is healthy and full of promise and rebirth. Take a walk and enjoy the vibes!

Smile

A smile is contagious. If you smile, others will too. This reciprocity ignites that good feel with all involved and places us on a path that is empowering.

Get rid of toxic stress

Toss it! Avoid toxic stress at all costs. Disengage from gossip and from those who discredit others with their judgments.

Keep learning

When we engage in active learning, time seems to stop. Our brains rewire and get excited, tuning us into a wavelength that helps us to grow and experience life on totally new levels.

Care about others

When we make it about others, we come alive. When this happens, we are fully present and charged.

Make healthy choices

This should go without saying, yet most put this on the bottom of their priority list. To be effective, we must be healthy and vibrant.

The refreshing kiss of the sun’s rays on the skin helps to clear the stress and frees the mind. When we’re in the company of sunshine, we are connected to a palpable energy that engages us. This energy sprinkles us in a gingerly rejuvenation. We wake from our once tired efforts with renewed peace, alert now to the soft nudges of life’s constant reminder to take rest and breathe in the sweet air that wafts around us in vibrant swirls. In the quiet folds of this newly found inner peace sanctuary, we align with the present and equip ourselves with the power to passionately reengage with our purpose.

Finding purpose in life may be hard, but never impossible.

If you’re like most people, you’ve asked yourself questions like these many times over: What should I do with my life? What’s my purpose? Why am I here? Is this as good as it’s going to get?

These are important questions we’re asking because this is our one chance at life to get it right and figure out why we were placed in this world. No one wants to waste this opportunity. No one sets out to spend their life caught up in the constant search for answers to these questions. Most of us just want to figure it out so we can get on living this great life we’re all capable of living.

Finding purpose

Some find their answers early on. I know people who are musicians who knew from the time they began to walk that music moved their soul. Nothing else in life will ever give them the same kind of joy as living out their dream playing music and entertaining others. They just knew, I’m a musician and this gives my life purpose. It makes me feel happy, and it makes other people feel happy.

I know others who knew in middle school that they loved working on mechanical devices. These kids grew up around old cars, tinkering with them, restoring them and watching with pride as those same old cars transformed into working pieces of art that rolled smoothly down the street. They knew that fixing cars was in their blood and nothing on this Earth would make them feel as alive as sticking their head under the roof of a car and working their magic. This brings them joy, and brings others joy when they can fix their problems and get them on their way.

Then there are others who naturally fell into their roles as teachers or coaches because it’s who they are down to the very core of existence. They were born nurturers and light up their classrooms with their passion. They lead students down enriching paths, giving them a leg up in this chaotic world. They derive pleasure and joy from knowing they are helping their students to learn and grow.

There is a pattern here. Do you see it?

When I think of those people in my life who live a life full of purpose, the ones who come to mind are those who put a high degree of value on enriching others. Musicians, mechanics, teachers and coaches all thrive on helping others in their respective capacities. They understand that they were placed here for more than just paying bills and dying. They are here to do something beyond themselves. They know the very fact that because they were born into this world, this world will never be the same without them.

Purpose found

For those who don’t have a clue why they’re here, I wonder if it’s because you are not happy with your job, and you believe purpose should connect to it? To this I ask, what if your purpose existed outside of your working environment? What if career pays the living expenses, and purpose is where true wealth exists? (And I’m not talking monetary wealth). 

I think a lot of people confuse their job as their sole place for finding purpose in this world. I do believe we need to find a deeper meaning to the daily work we do. But this is just one layer of purpose. You see, purpose isn’t one single element. It’s not one singular thing we do in life. It’s a culmination of things that build momentum on each other and bring us to higher levels of fulfillment.

I work in marketing at a university. For the most part, I find my position pleasing. I have wonderful access to technology and intelligent people who are on the cutting-edge of their industries. I work in a safe environment that is brimming with energy. I get to have my hands in many different types of projects on any given day. Is it my purpose to market graduate programs to incoming students? Is this the one single thing I do with my life that makes me feel whole?

Not exactly. It’s part of it.

When I’m at work, I focus on serving others through the skills I’ve grown over the years as a marketing professional. When I serve others in any capacity, I feel engaged and purposeful. But, I have other parts of my life that give me purpose. I find purpose through my dog, my spouse, my friends, and the work I do as a novelist by bringing awareness to issues that need attention. 

The common thread in finding purpose, and this is just my humble opinion, is finding ways to create meaning and joy for others through our actions. We’re not going to find purpose by sitting home and dumping on ourselves that we don’t have it yet. We’re going to find it by getting our butts off the couch and out of the comfort zone and exploring new actions.

Purpose has many forms, and it changes.

What we find purpose in now we might not in the future because we’ve transformed. This is natural. Free yourself to constantly look for ways to help others, while at the same time embracing change as it comes into your life. You will meet up with purpose when you let go of searching for it. It will find you so long as you are moving forward and taking action on things that feel right and important to you. Maybe it’s signing up for a new activity like dance class, martial arts, gardening, beekeeping, fishing, a college class, or a book club.

Questions to ask yourself as you ponder purpose:

• What can I do with my day that will bring value to someone?
• What activity makes me forget to look up at the clock?
• What is a problem about which I care deeply?
• If I had one year left to live, what would I do with this time?
• What are three things that are most important to me?
• What have been my top five most memorable moments in life?

A bit of truth:

• Until you do something, you have no clue how it will make you feel. You might love it. You might hate it. Or you just might find purpose in it.
• When we find something bigger than ourselves that adds value to those around us, we’ve aligned ourselves with purpose.
• At the core of purpose is the creation of meaning.
• Purpose changes as we evolve and enter different journeys. Don’t fear the change. Fear the stagnation because in staying put, we might just miss our date with destiny. 

Finding purpose

Purpose happens without force. It is the invisible band that connects us to the root of meaning. These roots extend far and wide, flexible to the diversity of change and flow. We grow mighty in both reach and capacity because we are strengthened by the dynamic nature of our potential. When we are in alignment with purpose, we become that radiant source of possibility for others. As we focus on helping others to grow alongside us, we form an upward pattern of inspiration where new ideas and even greater rewards branch outward, reaching toward the air that gives sustenance. Our gift in return is the pleasure of sharing this sustenance back with the world. For purpose comes to fruition and multiplies in the presence of a selfless devotion to something greater than ourselves.   

Now over to you: Do you have a suggestion to finding purpose you can share?