Nobody can bring you peace but yourself. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Freedom is something that we hold dear.
Inner freedom and peace of mind are valuable and should be cherished just as much.
Those who can let go of the negative thoughts and focus on what is going well in their life will have more peace of mind.
Do you ever feel imprisoned by the thoughts that keep circulating your mind?
We often worry, stress, and feel anxious because it’s easier than learning to look for the positive. The thing is that being anxious or worried 24/7 about your child’s situation doesn’t do anything to change it.
Your life is priceless. How many hours, months, and years do you want to spend worrying about something, rather than doing something more productive?
You may be worried about your current situation, family, or child. Make time each day to strive for inner freedom and peace.
To continually worry about your child is not good for your health. It disrupts your sleep patterns. Too much worrying can cause more frequent colds and sometimes more severe health issues.
We all want freedom and inner peace. You can find space from worry and discover inner peace if you set your mind to it.
You owe yourself one hour a day of self-maintenance. It can include reading, writing, yoga, exercise, dancing, meditation, painting, or whatever, but you owe it to yourself. One hour, 1/24 of your day. That is less than 5%. It matters, it really does. Make it count. ~ Sarah Brassard
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Even though you are worried, do your best to live in the now. When you feel pain and suffering, let go of being focused on the future or the past. Live as much as you can in the present.
- Choose a time of the day to think about your concerns. Keep it far enough away from bedtime so that it will not keep you up at night. Focus on your concerns for a set time, and then try to let them go for the rest of the day.
- Write down your worries as the thought enters your mind. Save your list for the time you have allotted to consider the issues.
- Keep a daily journal. Write three pages a day or set a timer for an allotted time. Write down whatever comes into your mind. Keep the pen moving while you are on the clock.
- Take a walk. Use this time to enjoy nature. Ideas, solutions, and calming inner peace may come your way.
- Have compassion for yourself. Setting aside time to treat yourself with love and kindness does help with change.
- Focus on the positive. Make a conscious effort to look for positive things during the day. You can appreciate those positive moments. Write them down in your journal.
- Keep a gratitude list. Write down three or even ten things you are grateful for each day. It will make you feel better. You will remember that some things are going right in your life.
- Find a time to reflect and be alone with your thoughts during the day. It’s helpful to carve out time for reflection.
- If you have time, volunteer. By helping others, you not only support someone else, but you fill yourself up with good feelings.
- Take one day at a time. Focus on getting through today and leave the future for tomorrow. Change begins with baby steps.
- Count your blessings. No matter how stressed you feel at the moment, remind yourself about all that you do have.
- Do something fun. Treat yourself well. Love yourself as you want others to love you. You deserve it. Bring new things into your life. It will make you feel better.
- Trust your instincts. You will hear many opinions and thoughts about what you should do to help your child change. Listen to what your body is telling you. The answers are inside if you listen.
- Reach out to others in the same situation. Find someone who has walked in your shoes or a group with who you can share your feelings. Don’t isolate. It isn’t healthy.
- Take some time during the day to meditate while you focus on your breathing. Breathe in. Breathe out. You will feel more calm and centered.
- Embrace an uncertain future. Accept that the future is unsure and some things are out of your control. Focus on what you can control.
- Repeat your concerns out loud over and over in the mirror. Let your emotions run their course until you are ready to move on.
- Remember, most of the things that you worry about the most never happen. The “what ifs” that cycle through your mind are usually far worse than reality. Let those go and focus on something positive.
- Be generous with your smiles. When you are laughing or smiling, it makes you feel better. Even if you have to fake it, make an effort to smile. Reach out to others in loving kindness.
- Exercise daily. Walk, run, take a class, or practice yoga. Find something that you enjoy. It will help you feel calmer and find inner peace.
- Know that you are not alone. There are many suffering from the same issues that you have. Knowing that others have the same issues helps you not feel so isolated.
- Find your strength. When faced with adversity, you need to dig deep and find your strength. Most likely, you have more strength than you ever imagined. Knowing how much strength you have will help you have the self-confidence to handle whatever comes your way.
- Educate yourself. You may feel weak and powerless because you are not informed. There are many resources available around substance use and addiction. When you educate yourself, you will have more knowledge, which will help you feel more in control.
- When your child exhibits risky behavior, life may not make sense to you anymore. You can encourage your child to change. You may not have all the answers, but you are doing your best.
- Be comfortable with not knowing. You cannot predict the outcome of every situation. You can find freedom when you accept that you can help your child, yet you cannot do the work for them.
- Understand your values. Realizing who you are and what you value most can give you the wisdom and insight to face any situation. When you are clear on your values, you will be better able to be a role model for your child.
- Let go of expectations. You may have ideas and thoughts about how you thought life for your child would unfold. When things take a major detour, you need to accept what is to maintain your inner peace.
- Don’t wallow in your misery. Let go of your story. Things may not be going how you planned. Don’t add more to the situation by submerging yourself in how miserable you feel. It does not make the pain go away. Your mind remains imprisoned in the negativity.
- Know that there is hope. Every situation is temporary. Peaks and valleys fill our lives. You may be in the valley right now, but the peak may be just ahead. Hang on to hope for your child.
When your bones are tired of carrying everyone else’s problems, and when your lungs are tired of breathing life into other people, return back home to yourself for a while. Shift your energy back inwards. Reunite with peace again. ~ Billy Chapata
