Inner peace is crucial for everyone, but it becomes especially important as we age. At this stage of life, understanding and achieving inner peace takes on new significance. Our bodies don’t function the same way they did when we were younger, presenting us with various challenges. The first step is acknowledging that our bodies are changing and accepting the need to adapt and make adjustments.
As our bodies change, our mental state often changes too. Physical ailments, like a broken leg, are visible and easy for others to understand. However, when we suffer from something internal and unseen, it can be difficult for others to notice—and sometimes, even we don’t understand why we feel the way we do.
Having friends or loved ones, like our mothers, who have gone through similar stages can make it much easier to open up and talk about our experiences. However, many women facing the challenges of a new stage in life may find it difficult to discuss these issues. This sensitivity is completely understandable, as I, like many other women around the world, am going through the same thing.
To begin maintaining your inner peace, I recommend finding something that brings you joy. Let me share my own experience. My family lived in Los Angeles for many years, but during the pandemic in April 2020, my husband and I decided to move to his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. It was a 2,000-mile drive, but we managed it and successfully reached our destination.
Mississippi is a completely different atmosphere for me, as I am originally from Osaka, Japan, the second-largest city in the country. Seeing tall, vibrant trees, open lands, cows, and horses was a brand new experience for me, but I really enjoy it. If I don’t see trees, I miss their beauty.
This new environment inspired me to start decorating our house, especially the porch. I began by decorating wreaths and painting vases that I purchased from Dollar Tree, transforming them into Wabi Sabi-style pieces.
Transforming a simple $1.25 vase into an aging antique style brings me immense joy. I never imagined myself delving into home decor and creating seasonal wreaths from scratch. With each project, I found myself improving and experiencing a deep sense of peace within. Finding activities that bring calm or happiness is what inner peace is all about. It’s essential for maintaining a healthy life.
Another discovery I made about myself is that I’ve become a book writer. I had never written anything before, not even in my own language, but now I’m a professional children’s book writer, as well as a creator of blogs and fiction books for all ages. How did it start? One day, my husband asked me to write something, and I surprised him by actually doing it. I never imagined I could write, but I took the leap. It’s been over four years since I started writing, and I’ve found joy and pride in creating all kinds of stories.
Working from home due to my family situation brought financial challenges and the pressure to expedite results. This type of stress disrupted my inner peace, but it’s crucial to address these issues and make adjustments to avoid overwhelming myself.
Inner peace is a vital tool for maintaining our overall well-being. Without inner peace, our physical health can suffer. In this blog, I will share various ideas on how to create an environment that fosters inner peace.
Living in nature, I see vibrant green trees every day, even right in front of my house. The gentle sway of the trees creates a soothing sound that brings a sense of calm. Similarly, birds with their vibrant colors engage in morning conversations, tweeting as if discussing the beautiful weather, interacting with nature is essential for our well-being. Whether it’s spending time in a park watching children play on the playground or taking a short drive to a more forested area, these experiences can make you feel comfortable and at peace.
One thing we must remember is not to push ourselves to do anything unless we genuinely feel like it and can enjoy it. It’s important to avoid activities that cause additional stress. I have health conditions that limit what I can do, but I try to cope and make the best of my situation.
Given my habit of spending over 8 hours a day at the computer, I make a point to take short drives to the nearest lake to get some fresh air and refresh myself before returning to my tasks.
We need to understand ourselves first and then find activities that we feel comfortable doing. You’ll know when you’ve found the right activity because trying something new will give you a good feeling, and you’ll want to do it again. That’s the kind of feeling I’m talking about.
