I used to think inner peace was something that can only be found in yoga classes or those things done on the mountain tops with kegs folded and eyes closed. But I’m a Nigerian—born into noise, raised in hustle, and trained by life to always keep moving. Peace felt like a foreign concept, then, a time came and I got tired, I asked myself who sent me, am not planning to escape life, but in my own part of the world, its always noise and hustling around. In all of this chaos, I just need to find peace.
Firstly, I did something with my phone, it was almost everything to me, picking it up at every slightest ring, its always with me, most times its the beeoimg sounds that wake me up in the morning, most times I want up startled. I out it on silence, anytime I wake, I wake up to silence. No distractions, I just lay down a bit more not giving room to any distraction, because there are still distractions around, there's the generator noise, there's my neighbors baby cry and all, in all, I try to listen to the silence inside me.
Also, I do talk to myself and ask myself things, not as if someone with mental issue, but the kind of asking self simple honest questions... how are you really doing today, are you fine, how do you feel. We hardly check up on ourselves, we always act tough Eben if we are tearing inside. I sit and talk it out with my feelings, even if sadness comes, since I don't have the power to stop it, I let it in, we discuss and tell it to go back.
Another habit of mine is that I select what to gibe attention to, I ignore most things, not everything does deserve my reaction or my time ignoring. There are certain post I see and I just skip it, when friends or family starts discussing marriage, I will just smile and change the topic. True peace actually comes when we stop giving and allowing for outside noises. People will always push one to be angry, to talk, to react and all but we should always learn to pick our battles.
Also, music, not just any music, but songs that reminds me that I’m human and still growing. I have my playlist where I have certain songs an they are the best pills for me then, it soothes my soul and help me navigate situations.
Also, I take long walks. I don't always have the luxury of gyms, walking is just the best, that way I feel better, walking reminds me that despite all that is happening, I'm still moving, then there's nothing to worry about. There a lot of times I just walk without having a destination, I just want to be.
While doing all these, there's one thing that has helped me most and that's not to try proving anything to anyone, everyone wants to trend, to be popular, to do this and that, that's not me, I don't chase attentions or approvals, the only thing I chase is peace and joy. I stopped trying to prove anything.
All pictures are mine.
There are various entries organized by @leogrowth. This post is in collaboration with the @emotionsfeelings community and an entry to day 5 of #fmarchinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you to also check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.
For inner peace to be, we need to make certain small choices. Even when life seems to choke, still, breathe, dance, feel free to love, laugh and cry too, just make sure to choose yourself every single day....