Who doesn’t love the word peace? Its very sound is comforting and calming. What comes to mind when you hear it?
Peace is both simple and complex. Viewed in the positive, it brings us comfort and tranquility. But in the negative, as in its lack, it creates worry, discomfort, and anxiety.
Could you use more peace in your life? Do you know how to find it?
Let’s look at some of the different facets of peace and how to get more of it!
From where does peace come?
Who doesn’t want more peace in their life and the world? Without it, there is chaos. With it, there is calm.
Look at the strife and trouble in our world today; war, destruction, hate, protests, politics, and so much more. At its core, peace comes from selflessness, while its lack comes from selfishness and greed.
Some general observations about peace are that it:
- comes from within
- is selfless
- cannot be forced
- must be accepted
- creates tranquility and calm
- frees from anxiety and distress
- can be found, created, and maintained
- brings blessings
- creates goodwill
- contains wisdom
Let’s examine two types of peace — inner peace and peace of mind. Open your mind, and let the wisdom and insight in the following quotes speak to your heart.
Inner peace
What image does inner peace create in your mind? For me, it is a wise old sage with a long beard sitting on a mountain, meditating with his hands held palm up, ready to receive. What about you? Could it be going through the day with peace in your heart, so loving and caring you radiate calm and tranquility wherever you go? Can you imagine living in such a state?
You can live a life filled with peace if your desire for it is strong enough. It all starts with inner peace and can only come from you. You must choose peace in your heart, mind, and soul.
“If there’s no inner peace, people can’t give it to you. The husband can’t give it to you. Your children can’t give it to you. You have to give it to you.” Linda Evans (1942-present)
When the world is going crazy around you, you can choose to step back, slow down, and notice the peace amid the chaos. It is always there in some way. You only need to see it.
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
Like anything good in life, peace is something for which you must work. You must desire it. You must believe you can have it and be capable of receiving it.
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)
Yet there is one exception to having to work for inner peace. It happens when God gives you His peace through Christ and His Holy Spirit. To receive His peace, you must sincerely believe, ask, and receive Christ in your heart. As the Bible says, His peace passes all understanding. There is nothing else like it in this world!
Peace of mind
While you can use inner peace and peace of mind interchangeably, some will make a slight distinction between the two. Inner peace is peace in your heart. You feel and experience it. Peace of mind starts in your heart and uses your mind and its ability to think and reason. Another way to state this is:
Inner peace is in the depths of your heart, while peace of mind resides in your thoughts.
“You’ll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.” George Michael (1963–2016)
Inner peace gives you a psychological or spiritual serenity, despite what is happening in the world. Peace of mind is subject to change, such as when you or someone else gets angry.
“Anger is the ultimate destroyer of peace of mind.” Dalai Lama (1935-present)
Another factor to consider when discussing peace of mind is your thoughts, general attitude, and mindset. You must open your mind and accept peace without doubt or worry. Otherwise, it will remain elusive.
“If you want peace, stop fighting. If you want peace of mind, stop fighting with your thoughts.” Peter McWilliams (1949–2000)
Finding peace
How can you find more peace in your life? There are many ways, but it all starts with your mind. The more self-aware you become, the greater the chance of gaining peace. Becoming mindful and using mindfulness exercises that focus on your breathing can be of great help.
It also helps to be fully present and not live in the past or future.
“If you are depressed, you are living in the past; if you are anxious, you are living in the future; if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” Lao Tzu (c. 6th century BC)
Many times in life, you must make peace, either through asking forgiveness or through confrontation.
If you have wronged someone, how can you have peace? Be mature, confess, and ask forgiveness to reclaim your peace if it is at all possible.
There are times when you must face a circumstance head-on and resolve it to find peace. An example of this is if someone is abusing you, get help and do what you must to free yourself from the abuse. Once freed, you can regain your peace.
Another example is if you have done something like overextending your credit, get serious with yourself, put a plan in place, and regain your peace.
“You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory.” J. Donald Walters (1926–1981)
Yet there are other times confrontation can steal your peace. While you should never cower or run and hide, you can choose not to engage. When others attempt to argue with you, push you, or use harsh language against you, the best response may be no response. When you refuse to engage, you maintain your strength by not allowing them to steal your peace.
“The less you respond to rude, critical, argumentative people, the more peaceful your life will become.” Mandy Hale (1982-present)
The most important peace to establish is peace with yourself. How can you be at peace with anyone else until you are at peace with yours truly?
“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” Peace Pilgrim (1908–1991)
What can add more peace to your life than gratitude and thankfulness? To be grateful is to be selfless and to appreciate others and the world around you. The more you appreciate your life, the lives of others, and all of your blessings, the stronger your inner peace can become, and the greater your peace of mind will be.
“Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there’s always something we could be grateful for.” Barry Neil Kaufman (1942-present)
And lastly, why not accept the peace available to everyone who believes? This is the peace you gain through a personal spiritual experience and relationship with Christ. It is the peace that passes all understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It is the peace only Christ can give.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
To obtain this ultimate peace, confess aloud that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and receive his salvation. The peace you will receive will be like none other!
Final thoughts
This brief article only scratches the surface of peace, so I hope you will find more ways to gain and experience it in your life. Remember, it is up to you to create and accept peace. With the proper thoughts and mindset, you can do it!
I leave you with some final words of wisdom and challenge you to find more peace for yourself and to bless those you love.
“Peace is not something you wish for. It’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” Robert Fulghum (1937-present)
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