How did inner peace become a priority for you?
I became an “inner peace fanatic” accidentally about 18 years ago. It seems like yesterday.
Oddly enough, years prior to that I remember uttering the words, “Inner peace, inner schmese.” One of my close girlfriends was on this kick talking A LOT about “making inner peace her #1 goal.” At the time, inner peace seemed boring and unimportant to this Type A, achiever girl. I probably even rolled my eyes a time or two.
But, after back to back break ups, a sudden move, mountains of debt and turbulent emotions, inner peace was sounding pretty darn good. Only then, did it pop onto my radar.
Fast forward through a sh*t-ton of back-to-back, deep personal growth work, a mighty dysfunctional relationship illuminating reactive buttons I didn’t know I had, combined with an open-hearted willingness to investigate the countless thoughts riddling my mind (pain can be a powerful motivator)… and voila, I found myself in a profound sense of inner peace in the midst of an argument. (I know an odd place for inner peace to arise!)
The inner peace was palpable.
And it stayed with me.
It was a defining moment. And I’ve never been quite the same since.
Even when my humanity gets the best of me, I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that I can always find it again.
Inner peace were the best words to sum up those lingering feelings that spontaneously arose 18 years ago and have returned to countless times.
But words are clumsy. And a lot of people didn’t get the “inner peace thing.”
I can’t tell you how many people have told me that. “Mary, I don’t get the inner peace thing.”
Through years later, friends would later circle back and say, “Mary, I get the inner peace thing now.” Then, they’d shared the journey that ultimately allowed them to connect to some version of “inner peace.” My heart always warms when it appears I was a catalyst sparking the “inner peace seed of possibility” within them.
Of course, we’re all always sparking something in others, whether it is acknowledged or not. It’s just super cool when positive impact is affirmed, right?
Maybe you already “get” the “inner peace thing,” and that’s why you continue to open and read my newsletters.
Maybe you relate to a few of my friends who didn’t quite get or still don’t get the “inner peace thing,” yet some how you’re on my newsletter list and reading this today. Everything happens for a reason.
I love that we’re still connected, and maybe it has something to do with finding, keeping or deepening inner peace in your life.
So, since I’m always talking about inner peace, how about I attempt to answer a basic question, “What is inner peace?”
What is inner peace?
One of my favorite quotes sums it up nicely.
“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” — Unknown
But, let’s take that deeper.
I believe inner peace and our true inner power are synonymous.
I often use the metaphor of a vacuum cleaner. When it’s plugged into the wall, it has access to a source of power. When it’s not plugged into the wall, it doesn’t work.
In any given moment we can assess ourselves. Am I plugged into my power in this moment, or not?
Wikipedia describes inner peace as the emotional state of being, mentally and spiritually at peace with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. It’s generally associated with bliss, happiness and contentment.
That’s how I would describe being connected to our inner power. Generally, this sense of inner peace is largely influenced by external stimulus. Watching a sunset, spending time in nature, relaxing poolside, enjoying a delicious meal or glass of wine, spending time with people who love us – all draw us into inner peace.
In some cultures, inner peace is also considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, Tai Chi, or yoga.
Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself, and what many, many people have discovered is their truest nature is inner peace. Imagine that, who you are at the core is inner peace. It’s true. This sense of inner peace is available to each and every one of us. It’s within us, not outside of us. You may already have a sense of this and just want to access this part of yourself more of the time. If you haven’t, that’s okay too.
When I think of inner peace, I consider both of these – BOTH the emotional state of inner peace and the consciousness of inner peace.
How we’re FEELING in any moment definitely reflects our sense of inner peace. If we’re irritated, stressed or doubting ourselves, it’s an indication that we’re not connected to a state of inner peace. So that’s something we want to pay attention to.
Yet, if we’re fully conscious in a moment of frustration or self-doubt, and simply observing life’s unfolding circumstances from the part of us that is aware and conscious, we can experience the frustration or self-doubt WHILE simultaneously experiencing a genuine sense of inner peace.
I remember one of the first times I experienced this phenomena.
I was feeling very angry at the time, and was journaling about it. I asked myself, “I’m angry, is it true?” And the answer that arose was a genuine, “no.” It was almost shocking. In that moment of asking, I was more identified with the part of myself that was AWARE of the anger. That part of me that was aware, is me, and a truer me.
My approach toward inner peace is twofold. We can address the stressors, learning how to shift our emotional state in minutes AND set up our lives in a way to make it easier to experience the state of inner peace.
Simultaneously we strengthen the part of ourselves that is aware, our inner peace headquarters. We all have it. But, most of us are so identified with the part of ourselves that is experiencing life – our thoughts and feelings — that we neglect the part of ourselves that provides a constant backdrop of inner peace.
Ultimately this combined approach helps us access inner peace in any moment, within ourselves, and at will.
One of the best, and fastest ways to connect to the consciousness of inner peace through awareness WHILE addressing the stressors is to participate in “The Inner Peace Experiment.” It’s 100% free.
If you’ve already registered, congratulations! If not, I hope you get curious enough to jump in and join us! We start today, March 22nd.
My daughter Shanti and I created a little video yesterday to entice you to join us! ENJOY my little ham… and then register!
Registration for the FREE 14 Day Inner Peace Experiment is still open! And it begins TODAY, Monday, March 22nd. CLICK HERE to join us.
Whether you’re feeling like accessing inner peace is impossible these days or you have a close, delicious relationship with inner peace, come play with us over the next 14 days! There isn’t anything quite like it.
Imagine enjoying more time in your inner peace zone where life flows, productivity and creativity soars, and you navigate your busy life (and inevitable challenges) with greater ninja ease, presence and grace.
- Radically raise awareness about what’s working and what’s not working in your life. (The more time in AWARENESS… the more time in inner peace).
- Address annoying stressors, instead of just ignoring or tolerating them.
- Let go of sticky reactions faster.
- Strengthen and amplify those habits that make inner peace more accessible.
- Bask in the company of like-minded souls who’ll be inspiring you, encouraging you and supporting you along the way.
All of this will unfold organically when you participate in the upcoming 14 Day Inner Peace Experiment –> starting March 22 – April 5, 2021.
Click here to learn more and register! It’s 100% free!
Hope to “see you” in the “14 Day Inner Peace Experiment Facebook Group.”
That’s it for this week.
Here’s to your inner peace,
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