Find a few moments to be alone, and think, when do you feel peaceful? When do you enjoy inner peace and happiness? You will discover that this usually happens when life flows smoothly, your relationships are harmonious, and you have good health, a good job and a good financial situation.
What is common to all these situations? We usually enjoy a state of inner peace when there is nothing to worry about, there is no stress and tension and we are not in a hurry.
This is not often the case. There are always factors that create stress and tension, fears and worries that spoil the feeling of inner peace.
Yet, we can enjoy peace despite difficult situations and uncomfortable circumstances.
Peace of mind is an inner state and is independent of external conditions. We can train our minds to remain peaceful no matter what is happening around us. Why wait for never and for circumstances to be “right”? Why let people, the outside world, and negative thoughts decide for us the state of our mind?
When the mind is peaceful, there is no overthinking and no mental restlessness, and we experience a state of inner freedom. It is an exhilarating and joyous feeling as if a heavy load was lifted from our shoulders.
The experience of inner peace and inner freedom is within reach of everyone. It is not dependent on outer conditions, riches or poverty, health or sickness, freedom or lack of it. Everyone possesses the potential to enjoy it here and now. With some training of your mind, you can enjoy it often, even under the most trying circumstances.
The Way to Inner Freedom and Serenity of Mind
Thoughts constantly arise in our mind. However, we do not have to follow them and continue occupying our minds them if they cause unhappiness and lack of peace. We can choose to ignore them and experience inner peace and a sense of freedom, and we can choose to water them with the power of our attention and make them grow stronger.
1. When you think, choose only positive, happy, and uplifting thoughts.
2. Think only about what you truly want, not about what you do not want.
3. Stay away from thinking about matters that make you fear or worry. Always remember that your thoughts shape your life, and therefore, you need to be careful with the thoughts you think.
This is the first step. The second step is to learn to calm down the constant chatter of the mind. This means mental mastery, a tranquil mind, and serenity of mind.
Wait a moment, before saying it is not for you, and going somewhere else.
Mental mastery, a tranquil mind and serenity of mind are most useful skills for everyone, for people seeking spirituality, as well as for people who lead an active life, have ambitions, goals and a career, or love adventures. With these skills, they will have more happiness in their lives and they will enjoy life more. They will also be more efficient and focused in whatever they do.
The attainment of inner freedom, serenity of mind, and the freedom from the compulsion of nonstop thinking, is open for everyone, provided the proper training is undertaken.
Just reading this article you will not bring them into your life. When you realize their value and have the desire to gain them, nothing will stand in your way.
The idea that it is possible to break free from habits and from constant thinking to no avail does not occur to most people. Few know that they can free themselves from their grasp. From the moment of waking up in the morning, to the moment of falling asleep at night, the chatter of the mind continues, giving no moment of rest.
The habit of worrying and constantly thinking meaningless thoughts prevents tranquility and serenity of mind from manifesting. It is a deeply ingrained habit. Nevertheless, this habit can be undone. The mind is a most and useful instrument, but it should not be allowed to rule our lives. It has to be obedient to us.
To get rid of an undesirable habit, we have to be aware of it, and consciously and attentively act in a different manner. Whatever new skill we develop, we have to train ourselves, until it turns into second nature. The same hold true with the control our mind and thoughts.
Sri Ramana Maharshi, the great Indian sage, said: “Mind is only a bundle of thoughts, stop thinking and show me the mind”. The mind is made of thoughts. When you learn to quieten the constant restlessness of your mind, your mind becomes calm and free, and you realize how thoughts have been controlling your life.
When clouds hide the sun, the sun disappears from sight, but it is still there, beyond the clouds. Our inner self and our sense of inner freedom are always here. We only need to remove the covers that envelope them in order to experience peace and calmness.
These covers are our thoughts, ideas, habits and beliefs. I am not telling you to stop using your mind. You need it in order to handle the daily affairs of your life. I mean that it has to be under the control your control. It should be your servant to serve you right, and not your master.
How to Attain Inner Freedom, Serenity and Tranquility
Everyone can learn a new language, but not everyone will reach the same level of expertise. Everyone can engage in bodybuilding, painting or writing, but each will reach a different level. This depends on the inner aptitude, the earnestness, and the time devoted to these activities.
Yet, everyone can make at least some progress. It is the same with achieving a sense of peace and inner freedom.
How to attain inner freedom, how to enjoy serenity of mind and how to make your mind tranquil? This requires some inner work.
1. Strive to calm your mind when you feel agitated.
2. Several times during the day, mentally, take a step back and watch your thoughts, as if looking at something outside you. Watch your thoughts, as if they are not yours, and be careful not to follow them and get engrossed in them. Just look at them dispassionately.
3. Focus on your actions, instead of letting your attention wander wherever it wants.
4. Find a few moments a day to practice concentration exercises. This will help you get control of your mind.
5. It would also be a good idea to learn to meditate.
If you follow the advice and guidance in this website, and practice the techniques in the books that you find here, you will start on a marvelous journey toward a wonderful life.
There is a saying that says, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”.
Teachers can be actual teachers, or they might appear in the form of books and articles you read, or as your intuition.
Remind yourself constantly to practice watching your thoughts, at least a few times a day, since your mind will probably make you forget to do so. Do not give up and you will succeed. If you practice often, you will be on the way to success. It may take some time, but the effort is more than worthwhile.
Remember!
You are not your mind!
You are not your thoughts!
You are not your ideas!
You are not your beliefs!
They may be yours, but they are not you.
They are instruments that you use. Do not let them control you.
When thoughts cease, and your mind becomes peaceful, you continue to exist. There is no vacuum. When the emptiness of no thoughts is reached, you feel very much alive.
When you attain this state, you stop acting instinctively on the prompt of each passing thought, and you become a completely conscious being.
Think of inner freedom and serenity of mind as feasible possibilities.
