The Journey to Inner Peace and the Noise Around Us

By Remez Sasson

There is so much constant noise around us caused by people talking, the TV and radio screaming, music from MP3 devices, people using their cellular phones, cars and other sources of noise. There are so many things that attract and distract our attention, taking a lot of our time, energy and attention, leading to tiredness and exhaustion. All this leads people to desire some peace and quiet, but though it might look strange, people often avoid quietude, and dread a quiet environment, preferring the noise, the constant activity, and hustle and bustle of daily life. They do their best to avoid any moments of quietude, of being with themselves, feeling uneasy in such situations.

Many people prefer to be in the company of other people most of the time. When alone they want to watch the TV, listen to the radio or their MP3. They just can’t bear to be alone with their thoughts. They need to hear people talking, and they need to talk. Are you one of them? Are you always busy listening to the news, reading the papers, paying attention to what people say about you, so much so that you have eventually failed to enjoy a few quiet moments with yourself?

Focusing your attention, mind and senses on the outside, alienates you from your inner self, from the most important part of you. This leads to stress, tension, resentment and unhappiness. You are more than your physical, more than your personality, and you are starving this inner part in you when you constantly seek noise, and seek to engage your mind and senses in what is going around you. This makes you forget your true needs and your true essence.

Cultivating inner peace doesn’t living a boring uninteresting life. It doesn’t mean lack of interest in the external world and it doesn’t mean becoming less alive, less creative and less adventurous. On the contrary, you become happier, more aware, more alive. You can do anything you did before, but with a new perspective, new and improved viewpoint.

If you wish to reduce the stress, the strain and unhappiness in your life you need to cultivate inner peace.

Inner peace might look like a dream, an impossible goal for many people, outside of this world. People erroneously think that inner peace is something which only spiritual gurus and adepts can attain. But even masters had to start doing something to gain the bliss of inner peace. But you don’t need to become a guru or master to enjoy inner peace. You can live your life, go to work, interact with people, have fun and do what you love doing, but also enjoy inner peace, without stress, anxiety, worries, or caring what people think or say about you.

Inner peace, and the happiness and bliss that come with, are part of your true essence. Too much attention to the noise of the outside world and to the noise of your thoughts hide the inner peace, happiness and bliss that reside within your soul.

The journey to inner peace is the journey into yourself and your spirit. It is a journey that requires you to learn how to quiet your mind. It requires some inner work, but it is inner work that you can do even while living your usual, everyday life. In the process of cultivating inner peace you also cultivate mental strength, willpower, self discipline, control of your thoughts, happiness and bliss.

This journey is not without obstacles, but when you know its importance and the benefits it will bring you, the journey becomes a pleasant journey.

The truth is that though people fear and avoid quietude, they look forward every day to a good night’s sleep, which is a state of quietude, of being without thoughts, a few hours of peace. Sleep is a period of silence, of cutting all ties with the outside world. When one gets into a program of training for inner peace, he or she learns to enjoy it while being completely conscious and aware of what is going around him or her.

Take the first steps today.

Start forgiving rather than hating, accepting and being thankful for what you have, rather than being resentful. Choose to understand rather than judge, learn from your mistakes, and then forget them and forgive yourself.

Learn to appreciate a few moments of silence every day. Get up a little earlier in the mornings. Take a walk alone, sit in a quiet garden or meditate.

You will not lose anything, if you free your mind a few minutes now and then, from the hustle and bustle around you.

Cultivating inner peace will lead you to harmony within you, which will gradually affect your outer world.

If you wish to learn this subject in more detail, gain real inner peace and a quiet and obedient mind, you are strongly advised to read the book  Peace of Mind in Daily Life.