Inner peace: what it is and 5 tips on how to achieve it

The concept of inner peace it is often used informally in all kinds of contexts. Although it is an idea that is usually associated with some eastern traditions linked to Buddhism and its idea of ​​enlightenment, there is also a secular interpretation of this phenomenon. One that can be approached from psychology leaving behind the religious connotations of the term, and that has to do with a way of living life that many people aspire to achieve.

In this article we will briefly see what inner peace consists of and what do we know about how to achieve that state of mind.

• Related article: "70 Buddhist phrases to find inner peace"

What is inner peace?

Inner peace is a cognitive and emotional state linked to a feeling of well-being and calm, which in turn defines the way we behave. This idea has its roots in certain oriental life philosophies, linked to religions such as Buddhism and Taoism, which are characterized by claiming the mentality of non-action.

Just as the Western mentality is characterized by wanting to transform the environment so that it adapts to human interests, in Asia a culture of denial has prevailed rather than

try not to deviate from natural and humble ways of acting, so as not to alter the order of things.

Thus, inner peace in its traditional sense is a reflection of the order in which we should ideally live: an expression of the fact that we find a harmony in our way of perceiving the environment and, consequently, in our way of acting and think. Of course, each religious tradition has defined it in its own way, but in general they all share that emphasis on non-action.

• You may be interested: "The Yin and Yang Theory"

Your relationship with desire

Sometimes inner peace is misconcepted by defining it as the absence of worries or fears, that is, dissociating it from any negative mental disposition related to fears and anxiety. However, traditionally inner peace has not been defined as the absence of these factors with a negative emotional impact. In addition, it is characterized because there are neither great desires nor, in general, psychological tensions in it that push us to act on our environment pursuing a specific goal.

How to develop this psychological state of well-being

Inner peace can be associated with well-being and the feeling that there are no important conflicts to resolve in our immediate environment. With this in mind, the best steps to develop inner peace are as follows.

1. Live a healthy lifestyle

It is impossible to feel good psychologically if we lead a lifestyle that wears out our health. Therefore, it is necessary to be clear that you have to eat a healthy and balanced diet, we must do moderate exercise on a regular basis, and we must sleep the corresponding hours so that, among other things, our nervous system regenerates.

2. Solve your fundamental needs

To reach inner peace, it is necessary to have attended to basic needs, those that have to do with having a material and constant sustenance to live: a home, food, relationships and other provisions that are vital, such as access to energy, ways to regulate temperature in a way that we adapt to it, etc.

For this reason, many people need to solve their economic situation before considering achieving that psychological well-being. Trying to achieve inner peace in the midst of poverty, in addition to being ineffective, trivializes the importance of a few minimum materials that dignify human life.

• You may be interested: "Maslow's pyramid: the hierarchy of human needs"

3. Avoid unnecessary drama

Much of the daily worries of human beings are totally illusory problems created by oneself. For example, the need to like everyone, or to follow the career path that others expect of oneself, or the obsession to stick as closely as possible to the canons of beauty... Giving up those artificially imposed goals It is a liberating act that brings us closer to inner peace.

4. Reconcile with your imperfections

Perfection only exists in mathematics. The realization is characterized by the imperfect, and as part of it, you should not expect to fit perfectly into the molds of what is considered ideal. Being aware that regardless of how much we change we will never be totally perfect makes us more people sensible and capable of adapting to circumstances, but also makes us prone to find ourselves at peace with ourselves themselves.

5. Don't be obsessed with the idea of ​​revenge

Harming those who harm us makes us slaves of a vicious cycle of attacks that sooner or later makes us focus only on the negative side of life. Forgiving and letting go of old offenses is the best way to emerge stronger from those experiences, since it is the ultimate test of maturity. There is no use embarking on the mission of constantly punishing just for the sake of doing it.