Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. – Hermann Hesse
People are perpetually searching for inner peace. These days, it seems like we need it more than ever. The world has become some strange sort of science fiction movie, where everyone is living in a forced separation, burdened with fear and anxiety. The coronavirus outbreak has made us spend more time at home, avoid social contact, fear for our jobs and health. All of this obviously raises stress levels.
Although you’re spending a lot of time in the quiet of your home, your mind is probably speaking and screaming more loudly than ever. Here’s how to silence the noise and find your way to inner peace.
Spend Time in Nature
Even research has proven that spending time in nature can be beneficial for mental health. Taking your time to appreciate nature can result in improved mood, better physical health, reduced feelings of anger and stress, and serenity. The silence you find in nature is not like any other silence.
This is one of the easiest therapies you can get. Just step outside every day for a couple of minutes, take a deep breath, and appreciate what’s around you. Activities such as jogging, gardening, or simply walking in your local park can be enough to brighten your day and help you arrange your thoughts.
There Is a Time for Thinking, and the Night Is Not It
When are your thoughts the loudest?
For most people, it usually happens when they go to bed. The very moment when you’re trying to fall asleep, all of your troubles come to mind. You even remember the argument you had a couple of years back and all of the things you could have said.
Situations like these often lead to acute insomnia, which sometimes even becomes chronic. There are many reasons why we can’t silence our thoughts and why we can’t fall asleep, and in most cases, there are effective solutions. The simplest include changing your lifestyle and practicing relaxing rituals before bedtime.
Engage in Meditation and Deep Breathing
Speaking of relaxing rituals that you can practice before bedtime – deep breathing and meditation are just the things you need to clear your mind and get ready for sleep. Both can be practiced at any given moment when you feel like you need some peace of mind. For this, you will need a quiet and isolated place where you can sit calmly and listen to your breath. Meditation is quite simple, but if you need some help, you can always find a good YouTube tutorial for guidance.
Switch off
Thanks to modern technologies, the human brain is bombed with an unprecedented volume of data each day. While technology evolves constantly, our brains are not evolving at the same speed, and it’s difficult to process that amount of information. This is overwhelming and a major trigger for stress and anxiety.
To silence your mind, you need some time to detox from tech. This is particularly important in the time of the pandemic, when we can find tons of bad news on a daily basis. Try to spend at least a couple of hours per day completely tech-free, and make sure to switch off at least an hour before bedtime.
Focus on the Positive
Have you ever heard of single-pointed concentration? In a nutshell, it is the skill of focusing on one object in front of you and shutting down everything else. This is the philosophy you can use with your mind as well. You can focus on a single positive thought, image, or memory. This will help you soothe your mind and feel better about life outside your thoughts.
Amplify One Sense and Dull the Others
Total silence is almost impossible to find, but by amplifying one sense while dulling the rest, you can minimize the noise and settle your body into a relaxed condition. You can try having a bath with the lights off. Practice some activities where the distractions are minimized and where you can focus solely on what you are doing. Some of the examples are cycling and swimming. This will help you get rid of the mental clutter.
There is an old Latin proverb Silentium est aurum – silence is golden. The tips above will help you find it within you and discover your inner peace. Good luck!