Answers: What keeps you calm?
Why Experiencing Inner Peace is Important to Resilience
Inner Peace is the quality that enables one to be calm even in the most difficult situations. Within this state of calmness, there is inner tranquility as well as serenity. Like still waters, it is a state of wholeness, or completeness that brings important measures of order, acceptance, and harmony even amid the challenges encountered in life. A calm Inner Core is spacious, uncluttered, open, free of anxiety or fear, at rest even when active, joyful, and trusting. Inner peace provides healthy conditions and freedom to respond effectively and take actions to address adversity. With strong Inner Peace, a person can focus, learn and listen, and make wise decisions as needed.
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. —Jude 1:2
Without a Strong Appreciation of Inner Peace …
With a shortage (or absence) of Inner Peace … you may experience varying degrees of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, especially during difficult times. Restlessness and agitation may adversely affect your overall physical, mental, and spiritual health, and you may find it difficult to make necessary decisions.
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” —St. Francis de Sales
Action Planning
If you want to develop your Inner Peace further … spend greater time in silence and intentionally listen to what is going on within you. Ask yourself, how still and/or cluttered is your interior?
Possible Actions – Perceive & Ponder
- Spend time in quiet contemplation, prayer and/or meditation in nature, a designated space in your home, and/or a place of worship.
- Reflect on your primary source of inner peace and consider if you there are additional ways and/or opportunities to actively tap into this source.
Possible Actions – Engage & Connect
- Examine your own interior space as you would a family room or other special room that needs cleaning and decluttering. Ask yourself, what areas need dusting? Do you get a sense of spaciousness or is it too cluttered? What needs to be removed or repaired? What is missing?
- Consult outside resources to deepen your understanding and your awareness – i.e., talk with others in your life – family, friends, pastor, spiritual director; engage in learning through sacred scripture, books, podcasts, articles.
Possible Actions – Plan & Pursue
- Schedule a private or small group retreat with a trusted spiritual director.
- Build in regular time for prayer/meditation and/or quiet contemplation into your daily schedule.
