There is no greater wealth on earth than peace of mind. To be at peace with yourself is to accept yourself with all your limitations, frailties and insecurities. But it also entails rising above the petty boundaries of animosities, prejudices, and trying to be happy with what one has.
Holistic health experts, nowadays, place much importance on achieving peace of mind. They say that peace of mind is a particular emotional and psychological state in which the mind experiences utmost happiness, a sense of calm, and, most importantly, a feeling of contentment.
Let us look more closely at the ‘peace of mind’ meaning, and how to find peace of mind in today’s time.
Why do we need peace of mind?
The importance of peace of mind cannot be overemphasized in our daily lives. With levels of stress increasing, it is hard to be at peace with oneself. But psychologists believe that having peace of mind in daily life is crucial for overall wellness:
- Reduces stress: Stress can lead to a range of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Hair experts say that stress also happens to be the primary cause of hair loss and hair damage. Reducing stress leads to physical wellness and allows you to lead a healthy life.
- Promotes optimism: Attitude is the key to success. A positive attitude fills you up with hope and energy. You can work harder and try to achieve things, which you previously thought were impossible to be achieved.
- Reduces fear and anxiety: Feeling anxious or fearful can sap your energy and affect your working ability. This may hamper both your personal and professional lives. Having peace of mind can lessen your chances of being fearful and can significantly improve the overall quality of life.
Which is correct piece of mind or peace of mind?
People often confuse between the two as the two phrases appear to be quite similar. A piece of mind has a negative ring to it. It means admonishing somebody. So when you say: “I gave him a piece of my mind. He will never dare to speak to me again,” you mean that you admonished that person so much that he will never be able to speak to you again.
However, peace of mind is quite different. It means attaining a sense of comfort and happiness and reducing stress. So the phrase, “At my new job, I was finally able to achieve peace of mind,” you are talking about a happy psychological state of being. While using these phases, one should be careful about the spelling, as a slight difference in the letter may lead to a mistake.
What is the meaning of peace of mind?
The dictionary definition of peace of mind is ‘a feeling of being safe and protected’. However, it also means to be without worry, anxiety, and stress. Therefore, the very phrase, ‘peace of mind’, involves a range of emotions.
It starts with a feeling of being secure. From this sense of security, emerges a sense of undiluted happiness. This happiness cannot be artificially achieved but has to be organically felt. Finally, this happiness also brings about a sense of positivity and optimism about what the future holds.
How can I get peace of mind?
While we all might agree that we should strive to achieve peace of mind, but it is not that simple. It is not a mechanical exercise, rather a deep contemplative one. Here are a few things that might help:
- Start with the most daunting task in the morning. It can be anything – an exercise that you may hate or read a book that you hate. Once you successfully handle the most difficult task of the day, you will not only feel confident but also at peace with yourself.
- Try and let go of things that you do not control. As Dalai Lama says, if what is going to happen is in your control, there is no need to worry as you can easily change it. On the other hand, if what’s going to happen is not in your control then stress is of no use. Either way, you should let go of things that you cannot control.
- Do not worry about what others think of you. There will always be both critics and admirers of your work. If you are sure that what you are doing is good for you and not harming others, then go ahead and do it with the utmost conviction.
- Do not worry about results either. As the Bhagavad Gita says, you should always do your duty without worrying too much about the results. This would liberate you from the vicious cycle of anxiety.
- Be one with nature. Having inner peace also includes being at home with your surroundings. Our external environment deeply affects our mood and our way of thinking. Being surrounded by natural beauty is important for finding happiness from within.
What does it mean to be someone’s peace of mind?
Peace of mind can be sought both for oneself and for someone you like. For a mother, her peace of mind can be her child, for a wife, it could be her husband. We human beings seek the peace of mind not just for ourselves but for our immediate family and spouses as well.
To be someone’s peace of mind is as important as achieving your own. Once you are at peace with yourself, you are also in harmony with the people around you. The positive vibes you exude make the people around you happy.
Therefore peace of mind is never a unidirectional exercise. It is always an exchange of energy, creativity, and positive vibrations. If everybody in your immediate circle – be it your spouse, your parents or your children – is happy and contented, you automatically feel calm without having to try too hard for it.
The Dalai Lama: “Do not let the behaviour of others destroy your peace of mind.”