How to cultivate peace of mind

A close friend confided that she spent a lot of sleepless nights because of an unsavory remark  thrown at her.  She would have a great day had it not been for an acquaintance who made that remark that spoiled her day and robbed her of her peace of mind.

There are people who are tactless, bitter and have “issues” in themselves. They throw their “inner garbage” to people they met along the way. In fact, author Don Miguel Ruiz in his book, “Four Agreements,” commented that people who are throwing negative things to other people are “ black magician.” Hence, one should ignore their comments especially if he or she knows that he/ she does not deserve it.

A wise man said that if you meet people who are tactless and bitter you should not entertain them. If they throw their “ garbage” to you and you don’t accept it by ignoring, the “garbage” is still with them. Why suffer when these kind of people do not deserve any attention? Do not allow them to rob you of your peace. Bear in mind that people who have no issues in themselves and are happy just keep their mouth shut."

I am reminded of this remark by Fr. Jerry Desmont, SVD, "Don’t let anyone or anything destroy your peace. Keep your peace. If you get angry, you lose your peace. If you get upset, you’ve been set up.”

Writer Henrik Edberg of "the POSITIVITY BLOG” and Junad Tahir point out some tips to increase one’s peace of mind:

Let go of things you can’t control. There are people’s behavior or situations that we can’t control. So let it go and let it flow. Don’t let these “energy vampires" rob you of your peace.

Don’t worry about what others are thinking. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking of you. Most likely, they are too busy wondering what others are thinking of them.

Count your blessings. Focus on the good things that you have, your talent and your abilities.

Surround yourself with positive people. Ignore negative thoughts and stay away from negative people. When someone is negative, he spread negatively and you get affected. Personally staying with such people will have long term impact in your character, so think about your company.

You can’t keep everyone happy. Don’t be over sensitive. Be natural and genuine in what you do. Be positive, constructive, and ethical in whatever you do.

Control your mood swing as it is an indication of unstable personality. Do it by not being reactive and explosive. Stay calm.

Ignore your thoughts about being unlucky. Bad luck happens to anyone. It’s not your fault. Time whether good or bad passes quickly. Develop the power of not looking back into your past. Believe in the power of now. Believe in your skill. Work hard and have faith in God. Be patient and see what God has planned for you.

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