Seven Practices to Cultivate Inner Peace

Many people have been conditioned to believe that peace is something that can be bought or built, or that it can be found in a person, a place, or a thing. You might acquire peace in pieces by such means, in moments, in cycles, like a rush of dopamine, just to find yourself longing for more. Ultimately, seeking peace from external sources may cost you your youth, your health, your livelihood, and so many precious resources:

Your time ...

Your energy ...

Your attention ...

Your blood, sweat, and tears ... Indefinitely.

In an effort to buy or build more peace, to acquire more comforts, we leverage more resources, more time, energy, and attention, until our days are consumed with being productive, working for the promise of more peace. Some people will go so far as to destroy everything in their path, in their lives, in themselves, seeking to buy more or build more peace, over and over again. Some people even believe the notion that we can wage war to garner peace ... and so many of us are at war, within ourselves and against each other, perpetually.

We have been convinced that we can buy, build, or battle into a state of peace, but in reality, peace is cultivated from within oneself, for oneself. Cultivating inner peace is a practice. It is a very personal journey because what "brings" peace is a matter of individual perspective. While it may seem that some people FIND peace in the daily grind of being productive, it is likely that they already nurture an inner peace. This inner peace allows them to focus on their passions and live with purpose. Many people who do not feel at peace within themselves misunderstand this and just feel lost and frustrated and exhausted, all the time.

I spent so much of my life seeking peace from people, places, and things. I was left feeling restless, disappointed, and even unworthy. As I journeyed into crypto, NFTs, and Twitter just more than a year ago, I was searching for something I had not found in my everyday life. I thought I could leverage crypto and NFTs to fund my own sense of peace, but I found something much more valuable ... exposure to practices for cultivating this feeling from within. In my own experiences, I have found some practices more suitable for my disposition than others. Any practice requires some trial and error to find what works, and some moments are more peaceful than others, but overall, I have come far in just over one year! Here are seven practices for cultivating a little more peace within yourself and your life:

1. Prioritize self-love & self-care

Self-love and self-care are foundational for self "anything" and are at the core of "everything" you experience. Much of my present journey involves instituting self-love and self-care practices that I neglected for years. Self-love is accepting and loving yourself as you are, flaws and all, with compassion and kindness, while allowing yourself to explore and grow through your experiences. Self-care involves caring for yourself in all the domains of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. While some self-care practices are automatic for many people, such as showering, self-care also involves intentional activities to support your health holistically, such as eating healthy & being active, getting enough rest, relaxing, reflecting ... filling your own cup, meeting your own needs.

2. Set personal boundaries

As children, we were often taught how to respect boundaries set by others, but not how to define them for ourselves. We were instructed to "share" with others, to hug our family members (whether we want to or not), to be polite, and to treat others as we want to be treated, etc … From all this sharing, hugging, being polite, and treating others with respect and compassion (or at least tolerance), our boundaries can seem insignificant in reference to others' needs. Ask yourself what YOU need, how you want to be treated, what is (or is not) acceptable for you. What personal boundaries already exist for you personally or professionally? Are there places in your life where you feel a boundary is necessary? It is important to create and modify boundaries to support your personal needs and wellbeing.

3. Spend time in nature

Not everyone has convenient access to nature, but do what you can. Go outside every day. Touch grass. Sit under a tree. Bask in the sun. Let the rain fall on your skin. Plan a nature walk, visit the nearest natural water source, go on a camping trip. Nature can be grounding, healing, inspiring, and it is proven to have health and wellness benefits.

4. Keep a gratitude journal

When you take the time to focus on what is good in your life, you tend to notice more good things in your life. This practice is sort of a "hack" to focus your mind on the positive. When you are on the road, do you notice the green lights or only the red lights? In your life, do you notice only the barriers or do you realize and appreciate the many blessings? When you regularly write and reflect on your blessings from a perspective of gratitude, you begin to "see" your blessings accumulate on paper AND you begin to notice them more in your life as well.

5. Practice mindfulness and meditation

To be mindful in a moment is to be fully present without distraction, to activate all the senses, and to minimize irrelevant or invasive thoughts. It is to disregard preoccupation with anything outside of the moment, for that moment. It requires practice and patience. Your mind may wander from where you are to where you think you need to be, but you can gently bring back your focus to the moment over and over again until you get the hang of it. Mindful meditation is a practice which can train you to focus your awareness more intentionally. There are many different types and forms of meditation, most of which some form of an ancient practice, so be sensitive and respectful to any practice's origin as well. Explore meditation practices, find what works for you, and keep doing that!

6. Connect with others of similar interests

Humans are social beings. When we connect with others of similar interests, we can learn from each other's knowledge and experiences, as well as offer support and encouragement to one another. This type of connection promotes well-being in many ways and can positively impact all the domains of wellness. Whether in a partnership, friendship, or community, connecting through similar interests can be motivating, validating, supportive, engaging, and uplifting. While it is important to remember that cultivating inner peace is a personal responsibility, you are not alone on your journey!

7. Seek professional support

Sometimes, we need extra support on our inner peace journey. Whether you see a counselor, therapist, or a spiritual practitioner, there are many methods for seeking professional support & education. There are also options for in-person consults, virtual services, retreats, and online resources that focus on cultivating peace.

While this is no way an all-inclusive list for cultivating inner peace, I have found these seven practices to be very impactful along my own journey thus far. If you are interested in cultivating your own inner peace, try any or all of these activities for a week, a month, or more … take note of how each one impacts your overall well-being. Adapt these practices and explore others you find nourishing, healing, or supportive for cultivating inner peace.

If you found this helpful or if you have any practice to share, please leave a comment!