I had just finished reading a book about how to find inner peace when I was challenged to do just that.
I was flying to a conference in Tampa. We arrived on schedule at the airport. I had just finished my book and was packing up and getting ready to get off the plane. Soon the pilot’s voice comes through the speakers and tells us there is a thunderstorm on the radar so they can’t let us off of the plane until the lightning clears the five-mile area.
Trying to kill some time, I started some small talk with my neighbor. She tells me that she is flying to Tampa to pick up her dad and drive him home to Michigan to die. What? That shook me up a little bit. Then the woman in the other seat tells me that she is flying to Tampa to take her MCAT test to get into graduate school and become a doctor. She had been drawing anatomy pictures during the flight. That doesn’t sound very stressful!
So, I take a deep breath and realize sitting on the plane is no big deal compared to what my two new friends have going on in their life. I had nowhere to be that night and I was just a student at the conference so no pressure on me. My life is looking pretty good, I can remain calm.
The pilot tells us a few more times that there is still lightning in the area and we can’t get off of the plane. Soon we have been sitting there for two hours.
Related Post – How to Raise Your Vibration After a Really Bad Day
It seems like at this point people would be getting a little upset. But guess what. The plane was full and there were small children on board and not one person got upset or complained. There were some laughs and side remarks about needing fresh air, but no one was visibly upset. A few people got up and walked around to stretch their legs.
It was awesome! We all seemed to be on the same vibration level. As far as I could tell, we all knew this was something that was out of our control, so we just needed to get through it. Finally, we were able to get off the plane and go our separate ways.
It was so much better than someone getting visibly upset and then others feeding off that anger. If that would have happened, the rest of the night may have been ruined because I would have been all worked up.
Finding your own inner peace creates a more pleasant atmosphere for everyone else as well.
Do you know people who have found inner peace? According to liveboldandbloom.com, this type of person may exude an inner calm even in the most trying or stressful circumstances. They seem to be fully present with everyone and are gentle and accepting of themselves and others. They are slow to anger.
Related Post – 9 Lessons I Learned From Following My Passion
According to Wikipedia, being “at peace” is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. It is considered to be a state where our mind performs at an optimal level with a positive outcome. Peace of mind is thus generally associated with bliss, happiness, and contentment. All emotions at the top of the vibrational scale. It’s about being fully present and focused on the task at hand.
Sounds pretty good to me!
Back to my book about how to find inner peace. The name of the book is F**k It, Be at Peace With Life Just As It Is. (I’m not sure what the deal is with everyone using swear words in their book titles these days:)
The author, John Parkin, says, that in the game of life, there are 3 levels to finding peace.
Level 1 – I’m stressed and don’t feel peaceful. I’ll be at peace when……..
Level 2 – I find ways to feel peaceful. I can be at peace now…(but there is always something more)
Level 3 – I’m at peace with being stressed at times and peaceful at others, as both are a natural part of life.
Examples –
Level 1
Most people are at this level of peace in their lives. I’ll be at peace when I lose 25 pounds or I’ll be at peace when I win the lottery. For my friend on the plane, she was probably thinking, “I’ll be at peace when this test is over.”
At this level, we aren’t actually happy or content with our life, because we want something better. We forget to be grateful for all that we do have. We are constantly looking for the next thing that is going to make our life complete.
Level 2
At this level, we start to understand that we need to quit looking for the next thing to be happy. We realize we are happy now. We find ways to be peaceful now. However, there is always something that will take us out of that peace.
In the case of the people on the plane, we were content with what was happening to us and figuring out how to be at peace with it, but getting off of the plane is clearly what we wanted.
Level 3
This level is great. This is the F**k It level. Be at peace with life, just as it is. It is not that we have accomplished all of our goals, but we have decided that despite everything we don’t have, we can be at peace. Driving your dad home to die, is horrible, but my friend was content with it. She just knew that was what needed to happen for her dad to be happy and therefore she would be happy too. She was focusing on the task at hand.
At Level 3 we reduce how much we care about what is bothering us. We consciously and literally reduce our level of care about the things that are stressful and bring us out of peace.
What level are you at? Find out what peace feels like for you. What do you need to feel at peace in your life? Are you striving for that one thing that will make it all better? Can you feel happy about your life now despite the struggles or pain you are having? Are there parts of your life that stress you out, but you can reduce how much you care about them?
I would consider myself to be pretty peaceful. I can remain calm in many situations, but I still want more to make me happier. It’s a work in progress to find inner peace. I’d say I am at Level 2.
Related Post: Tips and Strategies for Finding Inner Peace in Midlife
Here are some ways to bring inner peace to your life:
Breathe
Find a relaxation technique that works for you. Meditating, walking in nature, writing in your journal, taking deep breaths or reading are all great options to calm your mind. Notice how these techniques can help you feel more peaceful.
Stop complaining
Learn how to go with the flow of life. Stop focusing on the negative and take control of your life. Do something about the things that you are complaining about. Be at peace and reduce your level of care with the things you can’t control.
Slow down
Find moments of peace and quiet. Learn how to incorporate them into your every day.
Find simplicity
Having less stuff and fewer commitments frees up your mind of clutter as well.
Disconnect
Take a break from social media, news, and the internet. Take a long walk in the park or in nature. Breath in the fresh air and unplug from society’s demands.
Related Post – How To Live in the Moment
Service to others
Helping others takes the focus off of yourself and your own struggles and teaches you about others’ struggles. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment. Being kind to others brings more kindness back to you.
Pray for others
When others are suffering, instead of internalizing it, pray for their comfort.
Stop Worrying
Focus on the present and stop worrying about what might happen in the future. The only thing you can control is what is happening right now at this moment.
Be Grateful
Put your focus on what is right and take your attention off what is wrong and what you don’t have.
Be true to yourself
Make your own decisions about what is important in your life. Do not try to be what others want you to be. Find your own passion and achieve it.
There are many benefits to finding inner peace. They include mental and physical health and well-being, self-confidence, better relationships, and more joyful life. All characteristics of making the most of your life.
I think the biggest benefit to finding inner peace in your life is accepting your life as it is and being open to what comes your way. Taking control and not letting others affect how you want to live. Always knowing who you are and what is most important to you.
Have you found ways to bring inner peace into your life? What benefits have you found? Do you think you would have remained peaceful on that plane? What would it take to get to Level 3? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
For more guidance on how to find peace and purpose in your life, check out my book, The 5 L’s of Living Marvelously.