Serenity
Serenity - the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled
Lately I have been thinking about how important it is to be peaceful. Chronic stress can take off 2-3 years of your life, not to mention the 40% higher risk of heart disease and weakened immune system. It’s also just not fun to be stressed, yet I find myself in a constant state of worry. Why is that?
I could go into the spiritual side of things, which is very important. I could say that I need to trust God more or pray more. Both are true.
I could also say that our current American society is meant to degrade us to an utter shell of ourselves. Social media is crap, entertainment is tainted, movies are negative, stories are cruel, etc.
I could also say that mental health plays a big part is my own susceptibility to dwell and obsess over minute details till the point of exhaustion, causing a lump in my throat and a rapid heartrate.
At the end of the day, we are stressed.
Now what choices can I make to chase peace? God calls us to peace. I want peace. Is it real? Can I find it? Do I have to create it? I believe that God grants us peace when we let go of our own control and trust Him instead, yes. I also believe that we can make active choices to better cultivate our lives for an abundant harvest of peace.
Personally, I have made some small choices in my life.
One day at a time. I don’t worry about tomorrow or even this afternoon. I plan ahead, but I try my best not to get too involved in my ideas for the future, for who knows what will come? I, as a human being, only have the capacity to think about the here and now. The rest is up to God.
Being present. I need to be quiet. Take deep breaths. Drive without listening to music. Take walks in the morning. Look at nature. Sit and be still.
Removing social media. This is a pretty well documented and talked about topic of choice during the last decade. It's well known that social media use is most likely negative for your mental health and overall well-being. The construct itself is not natural or compatible with our true human nature and needs. I am sick of comparing myself to others or seeking validation. I am tired of the endless and relentless scrolling sessions with no end goal or end in sight. (Yes, I still have an Instagram account but solely to promote myself as an author and I do not use it other than to post).
Rearranging my goals. I would consider myself an ambitious person. I love so many different things. I want to do every hobby under the sun, accomplish as much as I can, be as much as I can. This has changed recently. I know that in Christ I am capable of many things, however few things are necessary. I want to be a good man and enjoy life. It’s as simple as that. I use to have such a deep desire for my own business, to make such a huge impact on the world and create something huge. Not anymore. I don’t want to subject myself to the immense stress and responsibility of making something like that work when I could just get another job. That is just me personally, and others might find peace in the opposite. I don’t want to feel like I am constantly chasing something or trying to keep some idea from drowning. Writing has satisfied that desire for me. It is my creative outlet. I no longer feel the need to master 10+ different hobbies. I like what I like and I can embrace that, no matter how simple. It’s okay if I only play videogames and read and write and chill out. That’s okay. I don’t have to prove anything to anybody or please others. This has given me so much peace and taken a huge weight off of my shoulders. There is no pressure on myself to “be somebody”. I can just live and enjoy my own life.
Minimalism. I am not a pure minimalist, per say, but I find peace in having as little as possible. I only want to be surrounded by what I need. My closet should be what I wear, my cupboard should be only what I am going to eat. My surroundings must reflect a desire for a peaceful nature and promote an inner clarity for myself.
In a world where productivity is praised and accomplishments are worshipped, ask yourself “what do I really want?” I can assure you that peace, serenity, tranquility, stillness, clarity, whatever you want to call it is worth so much more.
