Prioritize Peace

I once attended a silent retreat in a beautiful, rural community right outside of Atlanta. The breathtaking views immediately brought peace to my mind and body. To get eight full hours of silence on top of that was just icing on the cake! My introverted heart was doing cartwheels in my chest! What an absolute dream!

I spent the entire day focused on wellness: walking the labyrinth, meditating, journaling, deep breathing, and observing nature. I felt so calm, relaxed, and fulfilled. The nagging anxiety I usually experience was nonexistent. My mind was clear. My body felt lighter.

As the day came to an end, I realized I would have to leave this sacred space and return to my “normal” life, where I could not control the sensory input and noise levels that overstimulated me every day. How do I preserve my peace when others enter my environment? How do I maintain a sense of calm when I have to interact with other people? Is it even possible? Instead of giving in to panic, I took some deep breaths and allowed myself to consider that peace was possible. That was the first step—acknowledging that peace is available to me.

The key to prioritizing peace is to be intentional about having peace within you, even when chaos swirls all around you. How do you do that? You concentrate on your breath. You place your hand over your heart and close your eyes. You think calming thoughts. You become the epicenter of the stillness you desire.

Make peace a priority. Peace is grounding. Whenever possible, separate yourself from people and situations that withdraw more than they deposit into you. Speak positive words over yourself and repeat them often. Believe you can maintain the peace that supports your mental health and well-being.

Your mind is your sanctuary. Do not allow others to come in and disrupt the peace you have worked so hard to obtain.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for promising to give me peace, and please help me live in that peace when life gets stressful. Amen.

For more information about the author Faith Broussard Cade and Shine Bright Anyway, please visit: https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate/shine-bright-anyway/