How Much is Your Peace Worth: Finding Peace of Mind
How much is peace worth to you?
This time of year I routinely feel overwhelmed by the tasks, lists, meetings, holiday events and errands that pile into my mind and soul at such a rate that it can feel like I’m drowning.
I know it’s supposed to be the season of peace and love but that is not how I’ve been feeling. Am I alone here? I keep getting swept up by the rush of hustle and the spirit of busyness instead of seeking a pace that welcomes peace. In other words, experiencing peace hasn't been my top priority.
And then in a rare moment of quiet something clicked.
While I was reading my new favorite book – Following Jesus, Finding Our Way home in an Age of Anxiety, by Henri Nouwen – God spoke to my heart.
Written at the end of one page were five words.
“Be here. Be quiet. Listen.”
— FOLLOWING JESUS, FINDING OUR WAY HOME IN AN AGE OF ANXIETY, BY HENRI NOUWEN
Peace is a commodity that is often undervalued, but I realized I could no longer ignore it. Reading that phrase reminded me that experiencing peace was a choice.
If I wanted to get peace of mind, I had to make it a priority.
That book has inspired this blog post, and I hope after reading, you’ll be inspired to find peace of mind too, even during the chaos of a crisis or the holidays.
Ok. Let’s begin.
How to Find Peace of Mind
BE HERE: PEACE REQUIRES PRESENCE
In Nouwen’s book, he suggests that to find a peace of mind, you must first be present. When you are in the middle of a crisis or chaos it’s easy to get distracted by the details of the past and future.
But to find peace we must clear away the distractions, and experience the present reality. During uncertain overwhelming times embracing the here and now is a gamechanger. Being present makes room for peace.
Research shows us that mindfulness – or focusing on the present moment leads to lower anxiety and depression, greater resiliency to stress, and a sense of improved well-being!
It is the moments of peace that equip us to create order, serve effectively, and love fiercely.
BE QUIET: PLAN FOR PEACE
Too often, we’re a little bit in the past, a little bit in the future, and all over the place!
Perhaps this is the reason why peace feels impossible to grasp onto.
That is why figuring out ahead of time how to get peace of mind helps you find it when things get stressful.
Step back from the chaos, and take a few minutes to yourself. Remember that word we mentioned earlier?
Mindfulness. Let’s circle back to that concept.
This time, let’s define it.
Mindfulness is: “Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment.
Now, let’s practice it.
“Each of us must learn for ourselves what it means to be joyful.”
— VANESSA JOY WALKER
LISTEN: LISTEN & LEARN
Once you’ve planned for mindfulness, it’s time to practice it.
I challenge you to meditate -- and don’t be scared if this is a foreign concept. Meditation is really just about choosing to be still.
Start by setting aside time for yourself. You can start with 5 mins. Don’t overthink this!
Then, without judgement, and without interpretation, pay attention to the present moment. Be mindful; not only of your environment, but of yourself.
Breathe and they consider these questions:
What are you thinking?
What is distracting you?
How are you feeling?
What could help you find peace of mind?
If you want a full guide on how to practice mindfulness, get started with this article.
FINDING A PEACE OF MIND THROUGH PRAYER
Now, let’s dig deeper into what I consider the true source of my peace.
I’m asked all the time how I continue to keep it together, choose hope, and live somewhat peacefully in the wake of the devastating waves of crisis which have crashed onto the shores of my life. With the sensitivity to faith-based conversations, there was a time when I would try to leave the faith factor out of my answer. But that didn’t feel genuine.
The peace that I have received and the joy that I have chosen to experience during the hardest times of my life cannot be adequately explained without including the element of faith!
Finding peace of mind for me is rooted in my belief in God. God has shown me that understanding the gift of peace is essential to overcoming difficulties.
It’s God, who has inspired me to find peace, and I have found it because of Him.
God gives us a clear roadmap to peace and He lays it all out in the fourth chapter of Philippians.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do… Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
— PHILLIPIANS 4:4-7 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
First, we are reminded to be full of joy. Second, we are told to keep rejoicing while being considerate in all that we do. Then, we are instructed not to worry about ANYTHING.
Stay with me, please. I want you to get this point. And I know this isn’t easy for many of us. I worry so much that you would think that it feels good! But instead of trying to work the worry away, God gives us something else to do instead—pray.
So that’s what I do.
I follow these instructions carefully and I pray about everything! Praying all the time and about everything can seem like a lot. But God is always listening and usually knows what we need before we ask. God is waiting for an open mind and a willing heart. If you find that you can’t articulate your needs because you are consumed by worry, let God’s gift of the Holy Spirit intercede for you. God understands the unspoken desires hidden deep in your soul.
MAKE SPACE FOR GRATITUDE.
The last stop on the road to finding peace of mind is gratitude. This one is simple. Just be thankful. Instead of focusing on all that hasn’t happened yet, focus on that which has already been done. We all have something to be grateful for. When we do this God promises that we will experience His peace—a peace that will exceed our understanding! A peace that has the power to guard our hearts and minds. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of peace I want and need!
“God promises that we will experience His peace—a peace that will exceed our understanding!”
— VANESSA JOY WALKER
LET’S GET PERSONAL
I am not an expert on finding peace of mind all the time, but I am managing to be present and make room for peace more regularly.
I want that for you too. I want you to have a sense of peace so beautiful that you are unable to describe it, and an abundant joy so reliable that it doesn’t evaporate at the first sign of trouble. If you would like to read my full story, get your hands on my book titled “Make Room for Joy.”
I hope this blog post helps you on your journey of finding peace of mind. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Share how you find peace of mind in the comments below!
