Chaos can be unpredictable.
It can come from inside of us, or it can originate outside of us.
It could be caused by a physical problem or an emotional issue.
Whatever the case, it can be frustrating and exhausting. It can leave you feeling restless, stressed, and worried. It can take over your thoughts, ruin your mood, and wreck your day.
But you don’t have to let it.
There are excellent practices you can bring into your life to cultivate peace of mind and happiness. And when chaos strikes, whether by your hand or another, the force won’t be nearly as catastrophic.
Add these seven habits of serenity into your life to reduce stress, increase happiness, and bring a sort of peacefulness into your life that you haven’t felt in a long, long time.
But first…
What is Serenity?
One of my favorite descriptions of serenity comes from 7summitpathways; pay particular attention to the deepness of the second paragraph:
The definition of serenity is a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Achieving this positive state of mind means you won’t feel as troubled by life’s ups and downs. While addiction often brings chaos, a loss of control, and emotional turmoil, serenity will help you stay calm and true to yourself.
Others look at serenity as a sense of coming home to your true self and purpose. It’s not a luxurious, peaceful state. Instead, it’s an essential part of your body, mind, and soul. Experiencing a state of serenity can help you avoid chronic stress and also tell you more about the activities that make you happy. It’s not just for monks, nuns, and hermits hiding away in the mountains. Serenity can help you in Recovery and make a difference in how you view the challenges in your life.
So then, serenity should be something we all want in life, right?
Below are seven habits of serenity so you can bring serenity into your life.
1. Start a Journal to Get to Know Yourself
As we grow up, we get so caught up with responsibilities to family, friends, employers, and the rest of society that we often forget about ourselves.
We tend to forget what we want, how we feel, and begin to view ourselves as someone we are not.
We begin to know and understand ourselves less and less, which causes conflict within us that can cause stress, anxiety, and chaos.
But when you write about your experiences, thoughts, and feelings about any situation — exciting or stressful — you’re better able to connect the dots between your actions and your reactions, giving you a better understanding of the events and people that shape your life. And, more importantly, a better understanding of you.
And all of this can profoundly affect everything from how you deal with stress, to your career, to your relationships, and ultimately, your happiness.
2. Create a Calming Morning Ritual
Have you ever had a weed appear out of nowhere in your garden and take root. In no time it’s anchored in, and it’s not planning to go anywhere.
You have to be active in getting rid of it.
That’s a lot like those awful mornings — an unexpected foul mood to start the day burrows into the rest of your day like the roots of that plant. It takes root and anchors itself in.
And you have to be active (or proactive) in getting rid of those mornings.
Because the opposite is also true — starting your day with a great morning will carry over to the rest of your day, too.
So why not start every day with a morning ritual that sets the foundation for a great day?
Create a calming morning ritual that works for you, but here are a few ideas:
- Get up early, so you’re don’t feel rushed and panicked.
- Get a few minutes of exercise to get the blood flowing.
- Meditate to calm the mind and prepare for the day.
- Keep it calm. Sit down with a cup of coffee and read the paper.
- Get outside and take a walk around the block.
3. Learn to Be Thankful in the Worst of Times
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”
~Zig Ziglar
When life gets challenging, the day is a struggle to get through, and all you want to do is curl up on the couch and watch Netflix — think about the things you have that bring your life joy, instead.
Too often, we lose focus of what’s right in our world, and we focus on what’s wrong.
Do this every day to create a helpful habit: Write down 3–5 things you’re thankful for in your journal. Don’t worry; there are no wrong answers. It can be anything from the apple you just ate, to the sunrise, to your best friend phone call.
Do it every day, and it’ll shed a new light on your life.
And when those bad days hit, it’s a little easier to take some time to be thankful and to turn your day around.
4. Change Your Stress Response
You deal with stress every day, and on the worst days, it can make you feel overwhelmed, tired, or even depressed.
But stress is a lot more than a feeling — it’s a biological response to our situation.
And you can learn to relieve stress, or stop it before it even starts if you take the time to understand how you feel and why you feel that way.
In doing so, you can change your actions and reactions when stress comes knocking.
Here’s a three-step process to understand your stress and change your stress response:
a) Learn what Eats at You
What stresses you out? Do you know?
Sometimes I’m sure you do, but you’d be shocked how often you may walk around stressed and not know the root cause.
When you feel anxious and stressed out, acknowledge it, sit down and figure out what’s really causing you to feel that way (hint: it helps to write it in your journal). Sometimes it’s not what’s at the surface; sometimes it’s much deeper. And you may be surprised as you get to the root of the problem.
b) Notice How You Respond
We all respond to stress in different ways — unfortunately, they’re mostly unhealthy.
What are your reactions to stress?
- Do you feel overwhelmed?
- Do you overeat?
- Do you get upset?
- Do you distract yourself to avoid the situation?
- Do you work to eliminate the stress?
c) Develop a Healthier Response
Once you realize how you respond to stressful situations, you can then work to change your response.
Replace any unhealthy responses with healthy responses. Try a cup of green tea, calling a friend, a few minutes of yoga, or breathing exercises.
Focus on the solution. We make ourselves more overwhelmed by continually focusing on the problem. Instead, figure out what you can do about it and focus on that. Now you are not only focused on something else (the good of the solution, rather than the bad of the stressor), but you have a path to get rid of your stress.
5. One Thing at a Time
Some call it multi-tasking. Others call it spreading yourself too thin.
I call it BS.
Doing more than one thing at a time is a surefire way to ensure you get less done, with less quality, while adding stress to your life.
Instead, focus on one thing at a time — mono-tasking — and enjoy that one thing.
When you’re working on a project, fully focus on that project and your goals for that day.
When you’re having a conversation with someone, give your full attention to that person and be present and engaged.
When you’re eating breakfast, enjoy the calm of eating your breakfast in peace and enjoy every bite.
Stop trying to do so much at once.
6. Get Rid of the Clutter in Your Life
There are so many reasons to declutter: It can help you de-stress, clear your mind, and give your living space an instant makeover.
But the best part is it can also help you live a more peaceful life.
Clutter and extra stuff just cause more chaos in your already chaotic life.
So take some time to declutter and get rid of the things you don’t need. It’ll give you a clean living space, a clean workspace, and a clear and calm mind.
7. Realize it’s Not Your Fault
Everyone has their own concerns, anxiety, and stress to deal with.
Sometimes that can take the form of being upset, being quiet, or even blaming.
When we see others like that, especially if they’re close to us, we often mistakenly blame ourselves for their actions and reactions. But that’s usually not the case. Most often, you’re not the cause of someone else’s mood or behavior.
Cultivate Peace of Mind and Not Chaos in Your Life
Your life is hectic, overly busy, and chaotic, from the moment you wake up to the second you shut your eyes at the end of your day.
It’s all so overwhelming, and you barely have time for yourself.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
To cultivate more peace in your life, start to sprinkle these seven habits of serenity into your daily routine.
Soon you’ll cultivate more peace in your life while eliminating stress, worry, and overwhelm.
And you’ll begin to know yourself and your aspirations better, too.
Sounds like a win-win — so what are you waiting for?
