In today’s episode of the Inspiration2grow podcast we are talking about what really matters in life: your inner peace and your happiness. In the hectic world we live in today, it’s easy to feel completely drained, burnt out, pulled in all directions, anxious and overwhelmed. We have to take back our control and that starts on the inside, so let’s focus more on what really matters to be better equipped to deal with every day life.
Why is it so difficult to live well amidst the hustle and bustle and noise of our every day lives?
Have you ever taken a moment to consider this?
Some people might say this is due to the way society has developed and is just a consequence of our modern world, but it is actually a timeless issue.
The challenges we are all facing look different for everyone. But today, I am concentrating on 2 parts of the puzzle to living well:
· How you can find inner peace
· What it takes to be happy
Of course, each of these are huge topics in their own right, so we are only going to touch on each of them today. I want to give you food for thought going into the last few days of 2022.
It’s a good time to remind ourselves to focus on the things that are truly important to us.
“Living a good life is about not getting distracted…We all need higher goals, projects, and ambitions to live our life a certain way. If you have a reason to do things, you wake up with clarity.”
When you always focus on goals which lie within your control, you – not other people OR luck – determine the direction of your life.
So, we are going to explore ways of staying in control of your life and living well despite all the challenges our daily lives present us with.
Finding inner peace is a skill, one that we all need and one that can be learned and trained.
Inner peace is a state of calmness you feel deep inside yourself.
It’s interesting to note that peace is actually our most natural state of being. If we don’t find our inner peace, we will be constantly overstimulated, hyperactive, exhausted and burnt out.
Let’s face it… today’s world can be too overwhelming, stress-inducing, hectic and totally chaotic at times. So, it’s essential that we return to the calmness and stillness within ourselves.
It takes conscious effort to bring ourselves to this inner state of peace. We have to believe it’s possible and trust that every action we take will bring us one step closer.
Here are a few ways to find your own inner peace.
1. Meditate and practice breath work – In episode 35 I introduced two breathing exercises: the 6-2-8 breathing technique and the 5 by 5 box method. Both of these will help calm your mind and connect to the present moment. Don’t underestimate the power of breathwork as a means of relaxing, finding focus, meditating and reconnecting with your inner self and calmness. It has an astounding effect. Give it a try!
2. Put down your smart phone – Do a social media detox on a regular basis. I like to think of it as intermittent fasting. Just as people detox their bodies for a determined length of time, you can implement this practice for screens too. Instead of glaring at your phone and scrolling, grab a pen and do some journalling or read a book, or just sit in silence with your eyes closed and let your thoughts wander.
3. Take a walk in nature – Nature is such a beautiful thing and can be so grounding. Just by breathing in the fresh air, you’ll feel invigorated. The Japanese have practiced ‘forest bathing’ for years and it truly does have psychological as well as physiological benefits. Notice your surroundings, listen to the sounds, soak up the environment – find your inner peace.
If you become aware of moments when you need to find your inner peace, when the world around you is happening too fast and furiously, it’s important to have a few tools in your toolbox to calm yourself down. I have merely touched on three ways that I find particularly beneficial, but I haven’t listed all the ways. Test and find out what works best for you and train this necessary skill to install more calmness and inner peace into your life.
What does it take to be happy? That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Simply because, happiness means something completely different to everyone.
I think there are two kinds of happiness: surface-level happiness and deep inner happiness.
Today, I will share my thoughts on what I think it means to have deep, inner happiness. And, I will give you two journal prompts for reflection.
Being happy comes from the inside. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying,
“Happiness is an inside job.” And, it’s true.
The way I interpret this saying is that we all have to be fully in love with ourselves on a deeper level, not on a superficial level. It begins with loving yourself and accepting yourself for who you are.
Showing self-love and self-acceptance means being happy with:
· The way you look, your appearance
· The way you show up for yourself on a daily basis
· Your personality traits
· Your behaviourisms and habits
· Your characteristics
· Your flaws and shortcomings
That doesn’t mean you don’t need to change or it’s wrong to work on yourself to improve. In fact, trying to grow and improve as a person is an act of self-love if you ask me because you are striving to be or become your best self.
I can love myself, yet still strive to lose weight for health reasons.
I can love myself, yet still strive to tone my body and build up muscles to prevent injury.
I can love myself, yet still strive to adopt more of a growth mindset.
I can love myself, yet still strive to implement new habits for my own development.
I can love myself, yet still strive to educate myself more and broaden my horizon through reading.
I can love myself, yet still strive to change aspects of myself.
But any change you desire to make has to be your choice and not that of someone else.
You have to understand that: you are enough just the way you are, you are worthy of everything life offers you, you have a gift that the world needs, you are special, very very special.
Deep down we all have to internalize this message.
I’d like you to journal about or if journalling isn’t a practice you have started (YET), just simply reflect on this question and jot down some points if you feel compelled to:
End-of-year Reflection
~Journal Prompt~
Write down all the POSITIVE WAYS you’ve changed over the past year.
And, once you are finished with this one, consider this second one:
Have my requirements for REST, PLAY and CREATIVITY been considered in 2022?
Finding inner peace has a lot to do with being present in the moment. So, I encourage you to start setting intentions for yourself of returning to your inner calm and being fully present for yourself in this coming year.
Recognizing all the awesome ways you have changed and grown over the past year must leave you feeling proud and pleased with yourself. And, remember to inject that fun factor that I am talking about so much. While our bodies and minds need down time to rest and recover, we also need play time to have fun, laughter and enjoyment in our lives.
In Episode 39 on Creating Your Life Vision, I talked about the pillars of life. If you recall, I highly recommended that everyone should include a fun pillar for adventure and excitement. Never underestimate the value of such experiences in your life.
That’s my message for today, friends.
This is the last podcast episode of 2022. Thanks so much for taking the time to tune in and listen. Just know that I truly appreciate your support of my podcast and I hope to bring you loads of great content, talks and topics in 2023 as well.
It’s going to be an exciting year for this show and I am glad to have you along for this ride with me.
My only hope is that you start to implement some of the ideas, tips and strategies that I talk about and I would love to know which ones have been beneficial for you personally.
I would also like to invite you to become part of the Inspiration2grow community on Facebook. The group name is: Inspiration2grow for Female Goal-getters. It is meant to be a community of like-minded women who want to grow strong from the inside out. There will be daily journalling prompts, nutrition and fitness tips, exercises to try, encouraging conversations among the community and lots more. So, be sure to join this group for support, new ideas and the necessary rocket fuel to propel your health and wellness to new heights.
You owe it to yourself to take care of yourself, show up for yourself and become the best version of YOU.
In case you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to tell you…
You are incredible, capable and your potential is limitless. Never forget that and I believe in you 100%. Now, go out there and show the world what you are truly made of.
Thanks for listening and I hope to have inspired you to grow.
Til next time,
Lisa xoxo
