We all find peace in different ways.
At the end of the day, however, we all want peace. We all want to find fulfillment, and we all want to know that everything is going to be okay. Unfortunately, not many of us have found lasting peace. When I look back at my own life and think about the times I was unhappy, it's easy to see where I went wrong.
Stop attaching your happiness to the external.
Focus on what you have instead of what you don't, and stop expecting someone to give you joy. Joy isn't a handout, so why are you waiting for someone to present it to you on a silver platter? Stop waiting for that job, that promotion, or that compliment from someone you care for. Stop waiting around, because every second you wait is another second that life passes you by. One of the best ways to ruin your peace is fixating on the things you can't control. You can't force a job to appear, and you can't force your manager to promote you. You can't force anyone to support you, and you can't control how people treat you. Stop driving yourself crazy over what you can't control, and stop obsessing over what you're missing out on. It's very difficult to enjoy life when you're looking outside more than you're looking inward, but there's a cure. Instead of waiting for a miracle, change your perspective.
When you prioritize your peace and your health, you'll realize it doesn't matter who treats you badly, because no one can hurt you without your permission. When you focus on what you can control, you'll gain self-control, and you'll cultivate peace instead of pain. It won't matter that your friends and family don't support you, because you'll support yourself far more than they ever could. You'll stop fixating on your past, because you'll be far too busy living in the present. You'll stop trying to change things you aren't meant to, and you'll finally have the chance to optimize what was already set out for you. Stop trying to change the people around you—trust me, because I've tried. Trying to change people will only make you unhappy, and chasing what isn't meant for you will only distract you from what is. Stop comparing yourself to others, because you're not anyone but yourself. You're you and no one else, so why are you so focused on becoming someone you're not?
There is always someone richer than you, and there is always someone who looks happier on paper than you do. Instead of obsessing over those people, focus on your own peace.
It all starts with you.
