How to Protect Your Peace: Six Tips to Inner Harmony
How to Protect Your Peace: Six Tips to Inner Harmony
Written by Lily Thrope
Are there certain topics that trigger your anxiety? Is there an environment or atmosphere that consistently overwhelms you? When we take care of ourselves, we need to be aware of places, people and things that cause us to feel badly. This is what ‘protecting your peace’ is all about. Knowing what might bring you down is important in managing your own well-being and emotional health. If you have difficulty protecting your peace, see below for a few tips:
Set Boundaries For Your Own Wellbeing.
Setting boundaries is one of the most important ways to protect your sense of peace. It establishes a limit for what you can (and will) tolerate. For example, you may have a friend who constantly sucks your energy by focusing solely on their own issues and whose conversations are often about them. There might be times you are not in the headspace to handle it, and you are allowed to say: “I would like to discuss this issue at some point, but I can’t right now.” It is okay to step away from situations or people in your life that threaten your peace, in order to protect yourself.
Practice Mindfulness.
Mindfulness helps us feel calmer, cope with difficult thoughts, and be self-aware: all methods that help protect our peace. If you are interested in trying a mindfulness technique, consider using the 5-4-3-2-1 Method. This is a common grounding practice used to reduce anxiety and bring your mind to a calmer state. The steps are simple: first, name five things you can see. Then, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
Focus on What You Can Control.
In the overstimulating, often chaotic world in which we live, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. Therefore, it’s critical that we focus on what we can control and that is mainly ourselves and our reactions to these stressors. Consider filtering out what does not benefit you - be it a person, a place, social media or the news.
Cultivate a Reliable Support System.
By surrounding yourself with people who support you, you are ultimately creating a healthier and safer environment for yourself. With some exceptions, you don’t have to surround yourself with people who bring you down. In protecting your peace, it often comes down to with whom you surround yourself.
Prioritize Self-Care.
Make sure to take care of yourself. Maintaining physical and mental self-care is critical in the goal of protecting peace. Do things that feel good, whether that’s staying active, being creative or spending time with friends.
Practice Gratitude and Positivity.
Even though it can be challenging, focusing on what you value and love in your life can be a great way of being peaceful.Take a few moments now to write down five things you are grateful for. When we slow down and take a moment to appreciate what we have, we can gain perspective, mindfulness, and joy in our lives.
Protecting your peace is a journey that requires patience and practice. Setting boundaries, managing stressors, and prioritizing self-care all help to create space for a sense of calm in your life. Remember that inner peace is not about avoiding challenges, but about dealing with them with strength and grace.
If you find yourself struggling with protecting your peace, consider speaking with a mental health professional. Right now at Thrope Therapy we offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or inquiries at hello@thropetherapy.com.
