Achieving Inner Peace: 5 Don’ts

Achieving inner peace requires action. Most people aren’t born with an innate sense of inner peace, and it takes some effort to come up with a routine that fosters it. 

When you’re developing a lifestyle that promotes inner peace, consider avoiding these 5 things. 

1) Comparing yourself to others prevents achieving inner peace

Comparing yourself to others is not a fulfilling habit, and does not bring you any closer to achieving inner peace.

You never know a person’s whole story, so what you’re comparing yourself to is always a misrepresentation of that person’s life. 

Drawing comparisons rarely makes you feel better about yourself. Your path is your own, and where others are in their life has no bearing on yours at all.  

2) Trying to impress others

Your self-worth comes from you—no one else.

The minute you start trying to impress others or worrying about what other people may think about you, you lose confidence in your own beautiful innate qualities.

You must accept yourself first, and then stick with the friends who accept you too. 

3) Holding grudges will keep you from achieving inner peace

Reveling in a bout of anger is neither cathartic nor productive, and it’s damaging to your personal happiness and inner peace.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” 

-The Buddha

Inner peace is all about reaching a point where you are calm, balanced, and fulfilled with your path in life.

The Buddha summed it up beautifully: “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” 

4) Gossiping and spending time with sources of negativity

Do you ever find that your sense of humor changes based on who you’re spending time with?  Or maybe you talk about people more when you’re spending time with a friend who likes to gossip?

People who have achieved inner peace choose not to hang out with negative influences because they understand that negativity, like enthusiasm, is contagious.

Set yourself up for success by spending time with others who share your values and goals, or at least support them.   

5) Depending on others for your happiness

It’s ok to occasionally count on others for validation & encouragement, but fully relying on them to make you feel ok is a losing game.

Your peace and mental stability can only come from inside you.

Once you start relying on yourself for your own happiness, the amount of peace you experience will sky rocket. And most importantly, you’ll discover that you already have everything you need to claim your happiness, right here in this moment.