Self-Mastery Tip: Cultivate Your Peace of Mind
January 13th, 2010
There are many conflicts that most of us encounter in our daily lives; some are unavoidable, others are quickly resolved when we are in more clear states of mind. Many have reported that when in calm states of mind, conflicts that used to seem very large or important fade away, leaving people with much more energy and focus for important personal and professional goals. There are many methods of cultivating more peaceful states of mind, even in the midst of challenging situations and times. Here are a few ideas that have helped many people do so:
- Talking to yourself in more peaceful ways. “Harsh Self-Talk” is very common and is often a major reason for low levels of peace of mind. You may wish to identify times when you say harsh things about yourself (for example, “I am so stupid.”) and provide yourself with an alternative thought that is (at least) just as true as the harsh statement (for example, “I made a mistake like everyone does from time to time.”)
- Regular deep breathing. Often overlooked due to its simplicity, regular deep breathing can have a massive effect on peace of mind and clarity. The link between using our entire lung capacity when breathing and experiences of peace is well-established; learning to breathe more deeply can help cultivate peace of mind by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the portion of the nervous system that helps us calm down). You may wish to read about how to perform deep (or “diaphragmatic”) breathing and focus on your breathing 1-5 times per day for 5-10 minutes in order to experience the benefits of this powerful exercise.
- Engaging in more peaceful experiences. Experiencing more peace in your world can increase peace of mind. You may wish to identify places, people and activities that bring about more centered states of mind and goal-set to spend more time engaged in things that bring you peace and clarity.
NOTE TO THOSE USING THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: You may wish to cultivate your peace of mind by adding a new Objective to your system by using the “Add New Item” link (for example, “Cultivate My Peace Of Mind”). You can then develop a SMART Goal related to that new Objective by using the “Add Subitem” link to the far right of the new Objective (for example, “Make a list of peace-inducing experiences and spend at least 10 minutes per day engaged in those experiences 1-3 times per day.”).
FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON THE MISSION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM: Click here to for more information and click here to sign up.
FINAL NOTE: If you were linked to this article by a video or email, please return to that link and proceed with any other instructions that you deem helpful. For more Execution Excellence tips and tools visit our site at: www.excellencetree.com
Article Filed under: Self-Mastery Tips
[...] many ways similar to the development of a strong, healthy body; it takes practice and commitment. Click here for more on cultivation of peace of [...]
[...] I’ll be right back.). During that time period, we can work to cultivate peace of mind. Click here for more on how others have done so in effective [...]
[...] ability to stay focused on one’s mission can be cultivated by a deeper self-awareness, more peace of mind and the ability to cope with stressful [...]
[...] An important note about these sorts of exercises: It can be critical to be very careful to avoid punishing candor in the areas above. If we use any of the strengths or weaknesses we become aware of against ourselves or others, it can actually serve to hurt the chances that we will be honest in the future. This is why I often recommend using the exercises listed above in conjunction with exercises to promote “Peace of Mind.” [...]
[...] an effective and satisfied team” might be “Perform an activity that puts me in a peaceful, centered state of mind before coming to work every day.” An activity aligned with “Keep in good physical and [...]
[...] all be overwhelmed by too many extroverted activities and/or too many introverted experiences. Relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing or relaxed stretching) can help us to expand our comfort zones when we feel [...]
[...] in a class just for the enjoyment of it, catching up on some sleep from time to time or engaging in activities that bring about more centered, peaceful states of mind. Becoming clear about what truly satisfies and recharges us makes it more likely that we will [...]