The Choice To Stay In Your Peace And Joy

The other day I was sitting in a park surrounded by people. Some were sitting in chairs, looking up at the trees, seemingly in a state of pure relaxation, with no thoughts in their minds, just taking in the nature and sounds around them.

I felt a deep sense of peace and tranquillity, having just meditated before coming to the park. I had spread a blanket under my favourite oak tree with a book in my hand.

I looked around and saw a young family. The children were playing, throwing a ball back and forth, while the father was absorbed in his mobile phone. The mother was busy preparing a picnic, setting the table with a beautiful tablecloth. Eventually they settled down.

On the other side of the park was a lovely play area where families watched their children playing, climbing and jumping.

In the middle of the park, a group of young people were playing volleyball, being quite loud and using foul language. Their behaviour attracted everyone’s attention. The family preparing for the picnic decided to leave, put everything in their cars and drove off. Others sitting in deckchairs and some children in the play area also left.

The noisy volleyball group eventually attracted the attention of a police patrol. I overheard one of the officers reminding them of the ban on alcohol in public parks and urging them to be respectful of others, especially with small children around. Despite the warnings, they remained loud and disrespectful until they finally left.

Nearby, a group of people gathered whom I recognised as potentially being my kind of people, and I was right. One of them recognised me from a meditation course I had given some years ago. I remembered her name so we struck up a conversation and she invited me to join them.

To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life ~ Jill Bolte Taylor

They are a meditation meetup group that often gathers outdoors on summer weekends. Their topic for the day was mindfulness: the importance of clearing the mind by slowing down all thoughts and simply allowing oneself to be. The group leader emphasised that the key to happiness is not to overthink or get bogged down in negative thoughts. Many people don’t know how to do this; they let others and their environment influence their feelings.

One woman in the group commented that all the frustrated and unhappy people who left the park because of the unruly volleyball gang didn’t have to; they could have stayed and enjoyed their day by simply ignoring those rude kids. The meditation group chose to ignore them and remained untroubled, immersed in their own peaceful mindset. They didn’t let the chaotic outside world distract them from their inner peace.

This resonated with me so much. Our world is full of chaos at the moment, but we can’t let it drive us mentally crazy. We need to keep our minds clear and free from all the toxic clutter that life throws at us, whether it’s the mainstream news, conspiracy theorists, social media trolls or just everyday stress. The key to happiness is being mindful of who and what we allow into our headspace.

The thoughts and mindset we choose will either help us or hurt us. If someone is really annoying to be around, of course you move on when it becomes unbearable. But if you’ve developed the skills to mindfully calm yourself, to stay at peace, to choose who and what you invest your precious energy in, it’s easy to focus on what matters to you and not let others make you uncomfortable or steal your joy. It is possible with practice and is one of the amazing side benefits of cultivating a daily spiritual practice.

We can also teach this to others, but the best way is to be an example of how good life can be by maintaining a meditative state of mind and not letting anything move you to a place of discomfort. We need to be discerning about what we allow ourselves to think and feel and how we respond to the world around us. Clearing the mind, freeing ourselves from judgement and negative thoughts, and simply being in stillness, joy and inner peace is the way to true contentment.

We can’t change others, we can’t control the whole world, but we can choose peace and joy for ourselves.

Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds ~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Ways To Stay In Your Peace & Joy

If you are struggling to maintain your peace and joy, try incorporating some of these practices into your daily routine. It will help empower you to maintain your serenity and bliss even in the midst of the worst chaos and craziness.

Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with people and situations that drain your energy. Learn to say no and prioritize your well-being.

Breathwork: Use deep breathing techniques to calm your mind and body. Inhale deeply, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly. This helps reduce stress and anxiety.

Calm Environment: Surround yourself with things that bring you peace, whether it’s soft music, calming scents, or a tidy space. Your environment can greatly influence your mood.

Crystals & Amulets: Wear protective talismans or amulets in the form of pendants, rings or bracelets to shield your aura, such as the evil eye charm, hamsa hand, Nordic runes, various religious symbols, runes and guardian angel tokens. Another option is to wear or carry protective stones such as black tourmaline, amethyst or clear quartz, or any other crystal or gemstone that resonates with you to maintain a positive and protective energy field.

Digital Detox: Take regular breaks from digital devices. Set specific times to disconnect from screens, especially social media feeds, texting apps and work emails, to recharge and focus on real-life interactions.

Energy Shielding: Practice energy shielding techniques to protect yourself from negative influences. Visualize a protective barrier of light surrounding you, keeping out negativity and allowing only positive energy to enter.

Gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal and write down things you’re thankful for daily. Focusing on the positive aspects of your life can shift your mindset from stress to joy.

Media Exposure: Reduce exposure to negative news and social media consumption. Stay informed but don’t let it overwhelm you. Curate your feed to include uplifting and inspiring content.

Mindfulness & Meditation: Begin your day with meditation or mindfulness exercises to center yourself. Focus on your breath, letting go of thoughts, and staying present in the moment.

Nature: Spend time outdoors in nature. Whether it’s a walk in the park or a hike in the mountains, nature has a calming effect and helps ground you.

Positive Activities: Participate in activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies, exercise, or spending time with loved ones. Positive engagement helps maintain a peaceful mindset.

Positive People: Cultivate relationships with people who uplift and support you. Positive social interactions can enhance your mood and reinforce your sense of peace.

Prayer: Spend some time in prayer, seeking guidance, strength, and peace. Whether through formal prayers or personal conversations with your higher power, prayer provides much comfort and helps you stay centered.

Presence: Avoid dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Stay focused on the present moment and deal with situations as they come, one step at a time.

Visualisation: Use visualisation to reflect negative energy back to its sender and to banish the bad vibes of toxic, rude and obnoxious people. Imagine a reflective shield or wall of outward facing mirrors around you that reflects negativity back to its source and visualise the removal of toxic energy from your personal space.