How to Work Towards Inner Peace

22 Oct 2009

Image courtesy of CyberRoZ You’ll notice right off the bat that I said “work towards,” not achieve instantly. The reason I point this out is that so much of the lifestyle advice I see in books and online leads people to believe that they can change their happiness level overnight, by making a few simple changes. While I think there is merit to this motivational attitude, I think it sets people up for failure.

When you read a book about lifestyle design and see all of the wonderful examples of people that changed their life by simply changing a few small things, you start to see everything in absolutes…either success or failures. And that’s what a lot of these models leave out…the stories of those that fail.

Win the War, Not the Battle

When you are trying to improve your life or to create a lifestyle business, it is important to remember that you might not be successful on the first go. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go all out, but it does mean that you need to avoid beating yourself up over the little things. Sure, you might be one of the few that has an easy road, but most of us don’t. For many, every morning is a battle out of bed, followed by a battle through the work day, and then a long day at home in front of the computer.

There is no easy path to freedom. You’ll have to work hard, evaluate your progress, and then change your model based on that progress. That doesn’t mean you can’t be successful at whatever you do, but you must be prepared to fight for it. Think long-term and let patience prevail over frustration.

Stop Doing Things That Keep You Unhappy

Why do people that are unhappy continue to do things that reinforce their unhappiness? In my opinion, the only thing holding back is fear. Fear of change, fear of loss, and fear of being wrong.

I understand that you don’t want to lose your paycheck before you’ve made enough to go full-time, but there are always ways to make money. Become a freelancer (we all have a talent that can be marketed) and start building up a war chest. Read books that teach you how to work for yourself. There’s always a way to make money, always. Don’t sacrifice your happiness for a paycheck.

Get out of unhealthy relationships. I hear from people all the time that have someone in their life that is causing them grief. It might sound harsh, but there is no relationship that is worth being unhappy. Either take a stand and tell these people that they are making you unhappy, or remove them from your life completely.

Remember that bucket list? Start making it happen. If you don’t have one…make one. Then start taking action every single day towards the most important items on that list. In my case, I finally got off the couch and started competing in triathlons. I also started working on my first book, learned a foreign language, and started planning my move to Tampa, FL so that I can finally have a house on or near the beach. Just taking positive steps towards my goals made a huge difference in my life. The same will be true for you.

Get healthy – eat right and break the negative habits that keep you from being healthy. ‘Nuff said.

Stop worrying! Your situation might not be perfect at the moment, but you’ll get there soon enough. Life is a journey, don’t forget to enjoy the small stops along the way.

Become Your Own Hero

As an agent of change, you need to set an example for your friends and family. You’ve got to start by getting past rules you’ve allowed to be set for you. A hero knows how to break the rules to get the job done. Don’t let anyone tell you that something cannot be done. I don’t care if you are the only one in the world that believes in yourself…you’ve got to stick with the mission. This isn’t an excuse to be stupid, but it is a pass to break through the boundaries that have been put in place by the gatekeepers.

Find your passion, become the champion of that passion, and evangelize to the world.

There’s an End to Everything

Sorry to break it to you, but someday we’re all dead. One of my favorite parts of the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” series was the quote:

In 100 years, all new people.

There is freedom to be found in those words. Unless you’re genocidal or make a serious mistake, you’ll be forgotten in 100 years. We’ll all be long gone and the world will still be moving forward. So if this is the case, why worry about what some random guy on the internet thinks. In the grand scheme of things, everything is small stuff. Let it go and realize that when your time comes, there will be a list of tasks left undone. It happens to all of us.

You only get one chance at this, so stop living in fear. Take ownership of your own life and set the controls to overdrive. You are responsible for your own inner peace. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.