Inner Peace: The Energetic State of Mind
The idea of inner peace generally instills feelings of serenity, but the actions involved with this require vigorous activity. The cognitive state of inner peace is subjective in its unique definition regarded by an individual. Most people view this state more as a goal rather than a mode of being. Peace often resonates emotions of calmness and stagnation of labor. Inner peace is a director of behavior that involves energetic and constant action. It requires maintenance and frequent re-evaluation of its presence. Contrary to popular belief, it is not an achievement that once obtained, exertion of effort may be considered complete. There are three components of which inner peace is comprised: efficient processing of information, realization of moral values, and consistent evaluation of relationships. All of these factors collectively result in what one would constitute as being harmonious with oneself. Relating to legs of a stool, the inner peace “surface” will not be supported if one of the “leg” components is weak. To remain intact, peace is inherently dynamic.
A function of inner peace is the active processing of external information. Motivation involves the mind to create perceptions by interpreting and analyzing information from external sources (“Motivation”). It is this procedure that leads to a refined understanding of the world. Curiosity is a prerequisite to constantly seek knowledge. Personal growth is felt by continuing to question external data and then inwardly reflect on how to apply newfound knowledge to one’s own behavior. Individuals must observe behaviors and reactions of others in order to draw inferences about people’s motives. Through continued mindful exercise, one will achieve “mastery” of reality. An individual will then carry clarity and awareness that allows for exertion of energy towards other goals, which in turn contributes to personal growth. Communicating in an engaging manner is an example of a personal objective. These are ambitions the mind does not have energy to pursue when focusing on survival. A hostile personality might be a result of living a life with aversion to resolving past conflicts. For this reason, behavior is perceived as a façade since an individual has not developed their genuine sense of “self”. This calculated challenge is what leads to confidence; the immediate feedback reminds one that their behaviors are influential in a positive way.
A second element to maintain inner peace is to articulate one’s moral values. Self-esteem is a symptom once someone is able to crystallize his or her moral standards. Making decisions that are paralleled with ethic principals is essential to being honest to oneself. Without honesty, there is lack of clarity in how to direct behaviors. If one does not define their motives, they cannot verify that their actions align with what they feel is considered “right”. Constant feedback that actions are in line with morals is a basis for ultimate confidence. Once someone is able to achieve this, the result is fearlessness. Fearlessness may be defined when one is comfortable with their values and opinions in comparison to the external world. They are accepting of themselves and are not reliant on others to establish “normal” social behavior. This is the foundation for independence and self-reliance, qualifications for inner peace.
The third factor to realize inner peace is to consistently re-evaluate relations with others. Humans are social animals that naturally desire a sense of “belongingness and acceptance” as defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow. Our need for genuine relationships must be fulfilled in order to feel pride. Maslow observes, “But essentially they [people] seek high self-esteem and its behavior expressions more as a means-toan-end than for its own sake; they seek self-assertion for the sake of love rather than for self-esteem itself.” This confirms that our ultimate craving for self-love is fed through interactions with others. This is why it is essential to frequently evaluate relationships with the people who surround and influence us. If one relationship feels unsatisfying, it is the responsibility of the perceiver to repair this. The need to stabilize relationships does not only benefit the parties participating in the relationship; it also encourages inner peace.
Inner peace is carried out by actively exercising the mind. Every human has the capability to continually be attentive of his or her surroundings. It is the willingness to analyze information and mentally challenge observations that will propel serenity. Healthy skepticism promotes living with purpose, rather than mechanically making decisions. What many call “going through the motions” is the source of stress. Ironically, relaxation of mental activity with no desire to change is the source of “self-esteem deficit”. The moment a person accepts immobility of mental challenge is when mental confusion increases. The energy contained in the body and mind must be exerted to relieve force. Without an objective in life, the scattered thoughts confined in the mind eventually lead to feelings that may be described as “feeling unsettled”. This idea may be illustrated by comparing energy to pouring water. If the water is not manipulated, it will have a tendency to spread itself in many directions. When the water is directed to a “funneled goal”, the energy will remain controlled. The funnel will show itself in many colors since each individual human has a distinct potential. One must participate in practicing analysis of perceptions, clarifying moral values, and evaluating relationships in order to achieve what may be called mindful serenity.
Will you choose to be an investigator of life — or live the unexamined life? “The unexamined life is not worth living” — Socrates
