Skip to main content

Mastering the ART…of finding inner peace

#respecttheoldseekoutthenew2022

"Your life becomes a masterpiece when you learn to master peace."

As of late, I have been working towards finding inner peace; you know, that “state of psychological and spiritual calm that one feels despite facing stressors”. For me, finding peace of mind is all about attaining a sense of happiness, contentment, and bliss no matter how challenging things may get in life. Of course, we all know that stress is inevitable, but I would like to believe that we can cope more easily when we have developed the abiltity to find and keep inner peace.

The lifelong journey to mastering inner peace will look different for everyone. There is no one-size fits all. It may involve working alongside a therapist, developing a closer relationship with God, journaling, reading, meditating, exercising, playing sports, doing yoga, doing martial arts, walking, running, dancing, singing, listening to podcasts/music, being outdoors, cooking, going to a retreat, going to the spa, travelling (Covid really messed that one up for a while, didn't it?), shopping (Everyone needs a little shopping therapy from time to time and this girl sure loves her Lululemon!), taking a break from social media every so often (Can't recommend this enough!)... and, for some, maybe even creating art, which is something I have been experimenting with alot lately.


"Art...is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."

Art is a medium that can be used to express oneself without words, but even more, I have found it to be a relaxing and inspiring activity that gives me an opportunity to slow down when I feel overwhelmed and pressured by the hectic world we live in. It helps develop patience and once you are finally relaxed, you can then focus your mind on other things, such as processing your thoughts and emotions, as well as working on yourself. I'm totally convinced that it can have mental health benefits as it allows for emotional release and stress relief, but also, through its process, I believe it can lead to self-discovery and improving self-esteem.

You may have heard this before, but when making art, realistically you can't make any mistakes. Each piece will look different and that’s part of the beauty of it all - uniqueness! Believe it or not, but even some of the most famous pieces ever created contain what some would perceive as being "flaws". Creating a piece of art is a pleasurable experience that is much more focused on the process as opposed to the final product.

I've experimented with several ways of releasing stress and trying to find inner peace (nearly all those I listed earlier on in this post), however, for a long time, exercising has been my go-to. What I hadn't quite considered though, was that, even if exercising allows me to release some stress, it is also a stressor in itself; firstly, due to the intensity at which I am doing it, and secondly, because of the performance quality I am aiming for. Of course, I have absolutely no intention to stop exercising as I am incredibly passionate about it and I do believe it has incredible benefits, but I've recently switched up and redirected my training (temporarily) to move more consciously and intentionally, which I believe will be most beneficial for me in the long run, and that for a variety of reasons - physically, psychologically and emotionally. In addition, I have been integrating other activities into my weekly routine, such as art for example, to help me develop my tranquility of mind.

Finding an inner state of tranquility may not make stressors disappear, but it will very likely help with feeling more at ease, more prepared and less bothered when unwanted events tamper with the mind. If you’re wondering where to begin with your own journey to mastering the art of finding inner peace, I’d suggest you do the following: accept what you can’t control, stay focused on the present moment, be forgiving towards yourself and others, be grateful for what you have, and most of all, allocate yourself some time to be alone, to rest, to relax and to reflect. 

"Even in the midst of life’s many storms, we have the capacity to stand in the center of our own peace."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In a World Full of Noise, Let’s Show Understanding

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days.  That said, it’s no secret that I a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Momentum Reset

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Living Out a Dream

 “Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”? I recently received a message from an  old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years. At my age, I often look around and see many of the people ( my age ) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes ( A dream for many, especially women. ). And sometimes, I can’t help but  ask myself: what am I doing with my life? However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream. When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose li...
Post a Comment
Read more