12 Ways to Experience Peace Right Now

12 Ways to Experience Peace Right Now

With all the crazy going on in the world, finding peace can seem like a continuous uphill battle, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can experience peace in your life, regardless of circumstances.

The truth is, the uncontrollable circumstances of life will continue on in their unpredictable nature until the end of time.

So, the choice to seek peace then becomes our decision and ours alone.

Let’s talk 12 ways to experience peace right now.

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12 Ways to Experience Peace Right Now

Control Your Media Input

Between the 2020 pandemic and the volatile political climate, among other current events, it’s easy to get worked up over the news if you allow it to get under your skin.

If watching the news or opening your Facebook feed causes a wave of dread to wash over you, it’s time to manage your media input more intentionally.

Any form of media that creates negative energy is going to steal your peace if you don’t learn to mindfully consume content.

Give yourself a time limit on social media or when consuming the news, and intentionally plan when you’re going to consume media. It could be 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. Just make a plan and stick to it.

Knowing what is going on in the world is one thing, but spending hours a day consuming news cycles or scrolling on Facebook isn’t helpful.

Also, as I like to say regarding this issue: when you’re on your deathbed, chances are, you aren’t going to reflect back on the most meaningful moments of your life and think, “wow, all those great times scrolling through social media and consuming the news!”

In the grand scheme of things, social media and news consumption is a waste of time-and mostly creates negative energy! So just be mindful of your time spent consuming media.

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Consume Positive Media

Positive media, such as personal development books or motivational podcasts, is a form of productive consumption of media because it contributes something meaningful to your life.

They teach you how to form good habits, create a routine, set goals, and essentially any skill that will improve your life.

I have personally noticed a difference in my attitude while reading a personal development book versus not reading one, and the same goes for motivational podcasts as well. If I haven’t read a personal development book in awhile or haven’t listened to a podcast recently, I notice a difference in me.

Consuming positive media should be apart of your daily routine-I guarantee you’ll notice a difference in your life.

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Get Organized

A dirty house and clutter are both major peace-stealers!

Clutter not only takes up space in your home, it takes up space in your mind.

Make cleaning and decluttering a part of your routine. I personally recommend choosing one day of the week and scheduling in basic weekly chores, like doing the laundry, mopping the floor, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. Then, stick to that schedule. This will help you keep up with routine chores.

Also schedule time for decluttering. If you’re dealing with a major decluttering project, such as your basement storage, you might schedule one hour a week to work on decluttering. If you have smaller projects, such as decluttering a bookcase or a kitchen junk drawer, schedule a one-time instance where you’ll knock it out.

A clean and organized home will help you maintain a peace of mind and can even help ward off symptoms of depression and anxiety.

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Invest in Meaningful Relationships

Spend time with quality people, and invest in meaningful relationships.

If you have people in your life who always have drama and emit negative energy, it’s going to rub off on you.

You don’t need to cut off anyone who falls into this bucket, just be mindful of who you’re spending time with, and set boundaries with those who have negative energy.

Then, invest your time in the meaningful relationships that bring peace and joy. The people who encourage you, build you up, and contribute meaning to your life.

Resources:

5 Reasons Why Toxic Friends Are Holding You Back

Journal Your Thoughts and Gratitude

I talk about this practice a lot, and it’s because I swear by it.

Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve your mood instantly.

My personal gratitude practice is to list five things from the last 24 hours that you are grateful for. The key is, you have to find five specific things that brought you joy. Don’t list general statements like “I am grateful for my job” (although that is an important thing to be grateful for!)

Instead, really think about your day. Some good examples are, “I’m grateful for the positive feedback my client gave me on the project I just turned in,” or, “I’m grateful my husband had dinner ready when I got home from work.”

When you focus on the little things, it increases your joy and helps you see there are little blessings in every day.

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Exercise

Have you ever heard the saying, “I need to go run off this day”? Well, there’s a reason for that.

Exercise has been shown to improve your mood instantly and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Even walking 15 minutes a day can improve your mood-so always make time for exercise.

If you are new to exercise and would like to make it a habit, I have some great resources below that will help.

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Love People Where They’re At

We all tend to have at least one person in our life who can be frustrating to deal with.

Instead of trying to change them, you can choose to love them where they’re at.

Loving them where they’re at entails accepting them as who they are right now, but also setting and maintaining healthy boundaries.

“I love you, but no.”

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Get Good at Saying “No”

If it doesn’t bring you joy, say no-period.

Some people always say “yes” when asked for a favor because they hate to let others down, but the end result leads to bitterness, resentment, and overwhelm.

Why? Because when you don’t set boundaries with people and continuously say “yes” to them, they keep asking, and you keep complying. Eventually, you look back at the time spent doing that person favors, and you end up frustrated and maybe resentful toward that person.

There’s nothing wrong with doing a favor for someone from time to time, but you need to put your own agenda first, not other people’s. This is the key behind saying “no”-think of it as saying “no” to what doesn’t serve your agenda or purpose.

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How to Say “No” to People and Say “Yes” to Success

Make Time to Engage in Hobbies You Enjoy

This is helpful if you’re overworked or on the verge of burnout.

Every day, schedule time for hobbies. Even if all you have is 30 minutes in the evening. I like to carve out a little bit of time for myself in the evenings, and then have one day on the weekend where I’ll spend a few hours solely dedicated to hobbies that bring me joy.

When you skip out on your hobbies and don’t take a break from working or other responsibilities, you’re self-sabotaging your inner peace and you risk burnout.

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Create A Work Environment that Brings Joy

Whether you work in an office or are working from home, creating a work environment conducive to productivity and joy is the key to having a good work day.

If you’re working in an office, adding personal touches such as family photos or fresh flowers can set the tone for a work space you’ll love spending time in. Stock your desk drawer with healthy snacks, earbuds, cleaning wipes, and anything else that helps you enjoy your time at work and keep your area clean and organized.

If you’re working from home, having a designated work space that is clean and organized is imperative to maintaining your peace. If possible, set your work space in front of a window. Fresh flowers, a scented candle, or light music can help you enjoy your work day.

When you intentionally create a work environment that brings you joy and peace, you’ll enjoy working so much more.

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Own Your Mornings

I’m usually up before 6am, even on weekends.

Why?

Because I created a morning routine that I love so much, I get excited to wake up early.

The early morning while it’s still quiet in the house and dark outside is the perfect time to set the tone for your day-which is key to having a good day.

My morning routine consists of brewing my coffee, reviewing my goals for the month that I’m working to achieve, reading from a devotional, writing in my journal, and reviewing my schedule.

When you choose to allow yourself this quiet time in the morning, you choose to set yourself up for a good day.

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Design A Life You Love

Life is too short to aimlessly wander through the days just trying to get by. It won’t happen overnight, but when you learn to appreciate the little moments that make every day unique and special, you will start to experience peace more frequently.

Create a daily routine that is conducive to peace and joy.

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