“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.” ~Brian Tracy
There was a time when I thought peace was a destination, in much the same way I imagined I’d eventually arrive at happiness or success.
It seemed like something I needed to chase or find—definitely not something I could experience without dramatically changing my life.
I needed to work less, relax more, and generally revamp my circumstances and relationships in order to be a peaceful person.
Despite seeing peace as an endpoint, I also saw it as something passive; after all, that’s why I was so stressed: I had so much to do.
I’ve since realized that peace is always available, and like any desirable state of mind, it requires effort, even if that effort entails consciously choosing to be still.
Sure, our circumstances affect our mental state, but they don’t have to control them, not if we make tiny choices for our well-being.
Admittedly, it’s not easy to choose peace when we’re going through tough times. I still go through periods when I get caught up in worries and stresses, and it can feel like that’s the only available response to things that have happened.
But it’s not. There are countless things we can do to create peace of mind, both in response to events in our lives, and proactively, everyday.
If you’d also like to develop a greater sense of peace, you may find these suggestions helpful:
Meditation
1. Take five to ten minutes for a simple seated meditation.
2. Take 100 deep breaths, counting “and one,” “and two,” and so on, with “and” on the inhalations and the numbers on the exhalations.
3. Take a meditative walk, focusing solely on the physical sensations of walking—the earth under your feet, the swing of your hips.
4. Find a guided meditation on YouTube and let it lull you into a blissful state of presence.
5. Practice alternate nostril breathing. Hold the left nostril down and inhale through the right; then hold the breath. Release the left nostril, hold the right one down, and exhale through the left. Now start on the left with an inhalation, exhaling on the right. This is one set. Do up to five of them.
Communication
6. Write down everything that’s weighing you down mentally and then burn it as a form of letting go.
7. Write down everything you’ve learned from a difficult experience so you can see it as something useful and empowering instead of something to stress you out.
8. Tell someone how their actions affected you instead of holding it in and building resentment.
9. Call someone you’ve denied forgiveness and tell them you forgive them.
10. Apologize for a mistake instead of rehashing it, and then choose to forgive yourself.
Creativity
11. Engage in a little art therapy; grab some crayons, markers, or paint and put all your feelings on the page.
12. Create a peace collage. Include images that make you feel relaxed and at ease. (Google “peace collage” and you’ll get lots of ideas!)
13. Meditate on your favorite peace quote and then write it in calligraphy for framing.
14. Take a walk with the sole intention of photographing beautiful things that make you feel at peace, like a tree with colorful autumn leaves.
15. Write a blog post about what gives you peace of mind. (This has been a calming experience for me!)
Activity
16. Get up and dance to your favorite song, focusing solely on the music and the movement. Get into your body and get out of your head!
17. Take a long walk on the beach, focusing on the feel of the sand between your toes and the sound of the crashing waves. Cliché, but highly effective!
18. Go for a bike ride in a scenic part of town, and immerse yourself in the calm of your environment.
19. Take five to ten minutes for stretching, syncing your breath with the movements (or if you have an hour, visit a local studio for a yoga class).
20. Declutter a cluttered part of your home, creating a more peaceful space.
Acceptance
21. Muster compassion for someone who hurt you instead of wallowing in bitterness, which will make it easier to forgive them and set yourself free.
22. Set aside some time to actively enjoy the good things about the present instead of scheming to create a better future.
23. Create a list of things you love about yourself instead of dwelling on how you wish you were different.
24. Focus on what you appreciate about the people in your life instead of wishing they would change (assuming you’re in healthy relationships).
25. Recognize if you’re judging yourself in your head with phrases like “I should have” or “I shouldn’t have.” Replace those thoughts with, “I do the best I can, my best is good enough, and I’m learning and growing every day.”
Solitude
26. Start reading that book you bought about dealing with the challenge you’ve been facing.
27. Schedule a date with yourself, a time when you don’t need to meet anyone else’s requests, and do something that feeds your mind and spirit. Go to a museum or take yourself to your favorite restaurant and simply enjoy your own company.
28. Sit in nature—under a tree, on a mountain—and let yourself simply be.
29. Be your own best friend. Tell yourself what’s on your mind, and then give yourself the advice you’d give a good friend who had the same issue.
30. Repeat some positive affirmations that help you feel present, peaceful, and empowered.
Connection
31. Tell the truth in your relationships. When we hold in our true feelings, we create stress for ourselves. Be kind but honest and share what you really feel.
32. Catch critical, blaming, or self-victimizing thoughts. Instead of ruminating on what someone else did wrong, express yourself and ask yourself what you can do to create the change you’re seeking.
33. Have fun with someone you love. Forget about everything that feels like a problem and do something silly and childlike.
34. Connect with someone online who can relate to what you’re going through and create a mutually supportive relationship by sharing and listening.
35. Let someone into your self-care routine—ask a friend to join a yoga studio with you, or invite your sister to jog with you on the beach.
Contribution
36. Volunteer your time to help a charity you believe in. Put all your energy into helping someone else, and you will inadvertently help yourself.
37. Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Animals are naturally present, and it’s contagious!
38. Do something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return. If they ask what they can do for you, tell them to pay it forward.
39. Leverage your passion to help someone else (e.g.: if you’re an aspiring designer, design a logo for a friend). You get to get in the zone doing something you love; someone else gets support they need. A win/win!
40. Leverage your purpose to serve someone else, not for money—just because. That might mean helping them pursue their passion, or motivating them to reach their fitness goals. Whatever gives your life meaning, give it to someone freely.
As is often the case with these types of list, this can seem a little long and overwhelming. The important thing is that we do at least one tiny thing every day to create mental stillness. What helps you create peace of mind?

About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
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Such a beautiful message…living even just one of these tips is a wonderful way to cultivate/amplify peace. I think peace is a practice of love…we don’t always know “how” yet it can be great fun to explore and share 🙂 Thank *you* for all that you reflect and share!
wow reading that actually made me cry! I can relate to so much of that so I’m going to print it out and put it on my kitchen wall (am I allowed to do that?!).
Thank you
Sally
This is very helpful, definitely book-marking this! During busy times, it’s hard to get centered again. I suppose it’s a habitual process that one must be able to carry out always instead of a one time deal.
Much gratitude!
These are the types of posts I love reading the most! Numbers 36 and 38 are my personal favorites… I find it so beneficial to immerse myself in helping others because it helps me learn about what means the most to me. 14 and 16 are so true as well. I think for number 8, the (sort of) opposite is often helpful to me in many situations… if someone has affected me in a postive way then I feel a need to let them know!
Wow, what a list. Bookmarked! Thank you x
Of course you are! You’re most welcome. I’m glad you found this helpful. =)
You’re welcome!
I love list posts too! That’s a great point, about going the opposite of 8. It’s always nice to give someone that acknowledgement and appreciation. =)
I’m glad you enjoyed this Kim! I’ve definitely found that, about making it a habitual process. When I get caught up in worries, I know I need to give more attention to the little things.
You’re most welcome. I love what you wrote about peace being a practice of love..so true!
Very thorough list! Love that some take just 5-10 minutes. I also find that going to a kirtan chant concert or singing along to a kirtan CD can bring peace. Not sure if it’s the words sung (devotional in nature) or perhaps just the act of singing itself that creates the result.
I love kirtan music Sue! Great addition to the list. =)
Thanx!
yes u r right
Thank you.
Wow that was amazing! Ir realy helped. Bwautiful tips! Inspired so much that I feel helped already. Thank you
You’re most welcome. 🙂
I am soooooo happy to know these 40 hints,being Buddhist,to know it is awesome.
Thanx.
You’re most welcome!
Wow, this is extremely beautiful… People should google for something good like this…
Thanks so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
This is awesome. Browsing of peace of mind yielded me to have a very good understating of a big book written on this matter are simply cut made as just 40 points. Each points are so real and worth remembering every minutes of our day to day life to have our life with full calmness and tranquility. Thank you very much for these golden points. I Will definitely try my level best to adapt these habits in my life. Thank you sister once again.
You are most welcome Rajaram. =)
sinku
These are useful tips to motivate me to show kindness without expecting any return. learning to forgive will give me peace of mind.thanks
You are most welcome!
its jus wow… really very helpful n the lines r beautiful n peace making… i donno how hard it wud b but ll try n follow dis. thank u so much.
This is a life-changer. Thank you so much!
I m really going Through some tough time.I was really collapsing before n even thought to end everything……….but a random search bought me to this page and it really helped me a lot…Thank you :)(This is 1st smiley i have put since ages )
TRUE IT IS ,,,,,,,PEACE IS WITHIN US AND THE WAYS SAID ABOVE ARE WORTH FINDING OUR INNER PEACE
loved these things….may be u helped me to be a peace lover then being ambitious fool…….:)
Singing. Random humming. -creative and could also be meditative 🙂
thank you very much !
thanks a lot
Yes I liked above words, these are full of meaning every word has a mystery of peace. But I need more help….. I have lost control over myself.. and don’t have slightest idea what to do? M blank
i liked it, I want to come out from this mechinical life , I want to do something which can make me happy & only have a meaning ful life with a simle lifelyhood….. basss, can any one help me , please contact me at 09934313985
Thank you so much…it indeed is very helpful….shall read it over and over until I csn fully put into practice…
It was really helpful. i will start practicing from today. Thanks Lori
pleasure time reading this article…………….
really feel great reading this….. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it Aman!
peace of mind can come from hydrotherapy where we literally return to the state of unconscious oneness we experienced in the amniotic sac (the mother’s womb). it can come from a whiff of a lady’s perfume as she passes us by or by looking at a beautiful scenery such as a sunset or a waterfall. in fact water trickling down from a twisted rag too can give a lot of mental peace. finally the peace that comes from a hug or kiss or simple cuddling minus the sexual element is too much to even state in words. you have to experience it to appreciate it.
Goutam,
No one can help u better than U. Find peace within Urself.
It feels good to read this article. I read it couple of times. Great work Lori !!! You did a great and beautiful job, this will certainly help people. Keep doing this kind of work.
Thanks so much Aman. I’m glad it was helpful to you! =)
Thanks for your post. http://bloggerbari.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-get-sound-health.html
Thank you so much.. I actually cried… It made me really feel better…
a very good piece of writing : crisp…understandable ..highly practical and full of commonsense ( which is usu-sally uncommon) and what more.. you have given a neat prescription to practice happiness through simple processes and very realistic activities which , I am sure everybody will love and appreciate and apply in their lives . However I am going to give it a try with all my heart .. Thank u so much LORI
You’re most welcome, and thank you for the taking the time to leave such a kind, thoughtful comment! =)
Nice tips inspirational one for peace for day to day life thank u want to read once more:-).
You’re most welcome. =)