To find our own sense of peace and joy takes traveling within, not outside ourselves. Yet in our search for that sense of quiet and meaningful fulfillment, we often choose to overlook the wellspring of peace and joy that lives inside all of us. The tools that will bring us to a higher consciousness, filled with happiness, are far simpler than we realize. That’s because personal growth and spiritual growth are closely connected. They require we develop a far stronger mindset to focus and deepen our own happiness, quiet the inner drama, and learn to revel in the present.
As a real estate agent, I was successful, but disillusioned. I felt trapped in a double reality — despite how busy I was, I was also beckoned by an entirely different kind of ambition. I was drawn to the Divine. Instead of remaining restless and unhappy, I gave in. I began studying everything I could about Spirit in all of us. The more I learned and practiced techniques, the more I discovered an incredible peace and joy within myself. I felt at ease, and at peace with myself and the world around me. But that feeling didn’t come from anyone, or anywhere else. It came from me.
Here are three powerful techniques anyone can practice — and discover their own inner calm and happiness:
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful term, though it’s not always clearly understood. It means keeping your mind completely focused on what is happening in the present moment — and without judgment. Happenings might include thoughts, emotions, and experiences, at any point in a given day.
At first, you will find yourself fading from this practice with each distraction, but then returning. As you practice, you’ll feel a natural ebb and flow. But maintain your efforts, and you’ll be able to master this powerful tool. Staying mindful will bring you to places of inner peace you’ve never imagined, finding profound balance and harmony within.
Listen to Your Inner Fears.
We all have voices in our heads that clamor for attention and sow doubt and confusion. But instead of trying harder and harder to ignore them, don’t. Do the opposite: pay attention to them. Relax into the recesses of your mind, and observe those voices until they stop — and they will stop. Our imaginations are far too good at running away with us. Sometimes we feel as if that “tape loop” of worries must be constructively helping, but it’s not. It’s time we get better at quieting those voices down instead.
When you recognize that voices are commenting on whatever is passing through your mind, you will realize those voices are not there to serve you, but to fill you with fears and suppositions. That often diminishes our ability to reason, and makes to question decisions we’ve made or a sense of understanding we’ve already achieved. But observing these voices defuses their power. The more you practice this technique, the better you’ll be at staying focused. You’ll start to notice how comfortable you are with your own reasoning and decisions, instead of second-guessing yourself all the time.
Focus on Your Intentions.
Setting your intentions in a present, positive manner is key to manifesting exactly what you want to experience. It paves the way for a better outcome, whatever the activity or relationships involved. Every time you head into any situation, consider your highest expectation for it: if you anticipate trouble, imagine overcoming it. If you’re facing a challenge, imagine that you have already prevailed. If you’re about to do something fun, imagine it being even more of a pleasure. The universe will fill in the details.
There’s nothing complicated about this technique. It’s a simple, easy process that will bring untold benefits. You could phrase it like so: My intention here is to enjoy this day with my family, easily find a place to eat we all take delight in, and discover a lovely setting to explore. Or, if you’d like to make it a prayerful version, start with addressing the deity that’s at the center of your belief, be it “Heavenly Father,” or “Ascended Masters,” for instance. When you’re focused on the outcome you want to have, you pave the way for it to really happen.
These simple methods are so often the last ones we’d consider as we search for joy and meaning. But each is essential for anyone’s journey towards consciousness and grace. Learning to live in the now, expose the worrisome voices in our heads, and live according to our own intentions are profoundly effective tools for gaining calm, happiness, and peace. When we master these techniques, our experience of life changes dramatically — and we find ourselves open, calm, and clear. In that state, we can align ourselves with the sense of the Divine within — and discover joy, meaning, and boundless love.