Inner peace refers to a deliberate state of psychological or spiritual calm despite the presence of stressors. Because of the political climate and the health of the world right now there are a complex layer of stressors.
Here are 8 tips for finding inner peace during the holiday season
- Focus your attention on the things you can control and release the things that are out of your control.
- Spend time in nature. Nature can be very grounding and calming.
- Be mindful. This means truly being present in each experience and activity including eating, walking, and everyday conversations. The apostle Paul reminds Christians that they’re called to be mindful and live with an awareness of the present (Philippians 2:1-5).
- Move your body – exercise is a great way to move your body but it isn’t the only way. For example, you can move your body through stretching, dance, progressive muscle relaxation, and walking.
- Spread Christmas cheer – doing good not only helps us to feel good inside but it also makes the world a little brighter and friendlier.
- Meditate – Meditation is being in tune with our inner selves because as we quiet the mind, our soul will speak to us. Psalm 49:3 says, “My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding” and Psalm 104: 34 says, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD”. Spend some time in prayer, meditating on God’s word, or listen to a guided meditation which uses imagery to create a peaceful state.
- Connect with those you love, even if it means being creative about how we do that (phone, video calls etc). When we are faced with stressors, fear, and challenges, our instinct is for belonging, for a safe space to land. A healthy loving relationship/friendship can create a deep experience of inner peace.
- Trust in the Peace of the Lord - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” Jesus promised his anxious disciples. But he does not stop there, he adds a caveat: “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” What is the difference between the peace Christ gives and the peace the world gives? Put simply, the peace of the world is based entirely on circumstances, while the peace of Christ flows from the heart and can exist even in the most painful and chaotic of moments. (John 14) {See Connecting to Our Faith for further reflection}
Activity
Read the article 10 Small Ways to Bring Peace Into Your Home. Practice one item per day.
Tip: If you need help with item #8 watch this video:
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Ask yourself, there is no wrong answer:
What is something new that I can practice this holiday, with people in my household, to bring a little peace to my corner of the world?
Connecting to our faith:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everlasting prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
The peace of God is a safeguard for all our hearts, a defense against the worries and cares of the world. In the world around us, peace between nations and peoples can come and go. In families and even in our own minds, peace can be sometimes hard to find. But St Paul reminds us that the basis for peace is joy and trust in God. This season we pray especially for peace in our troubled world, a peace that begins with our determination to rejoice. We are joyful because Jesus is near to us and hears our every plea.
Let us pray: Encouraging God, provide us with peace and confidence as we bring our prayers to you. May we rejoice in the knowledge that all things are in your hands. Amen
Further Learning & Resources:
Reference: https://catholicexchange.com/find-peace-lesson-daily-life
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