There is no greater wealth on earth than peace of mind. To be at Peace with yourself is to accept yourself with all your limitations, frailties and insecurities. But it also entails rising above the petty boundaries of animosities, prejudices, and trying to be happy with what one has. 

Holistic health experts, nowadays, place much importance on achieving peace of mind. They say that peace of mind is a particular emotional and psychological state in which the mind experiences utmost happiness, a sense of calm, and, most importantly, a feeling of contentment.

Let us look more closely at the ‘peace of mind’ meaning, and how to find peace of mind in today’s time. 

What is the meaning of peace of mind?

The dictionary definition of peace of mind is ‘a feeling of being safe and protected’. However, it also means to be without worry, anxiety, and stress. Therefore, the very phrase, ‘peace of mind’, involves a range of emotions. 

It starts with a feeling of being secure. From this sense of security, emerges a sense of undiluted happiness. This happiness cannot be artificially achieved but has to be organically felt. Finally, this happiness also brings about a sense of positivity and optimism about what the future holds. 

Why do we need peace of mind?

The importance of peace of mind cannot be overemphasized in our daily lives. With levels of stress increasing, it is hard to be at peace with oneself. But psychologists believe that having peace of mind in daily life is crucial for overall wellness:

• Reduces stress: Stress can lead to a range of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Hair experts say that stress also happens to be the primary cause of hair loss and hair damage. Reducing stress leads to physical wellness and allows you to lead a healthy life.

• Promotes optimism: Attitude is the key to success. A positive attitude fills you up with hope and energy. You can work harder and try to achieve things, which you previously thought were impossible to be achieved.

• Reduces fear and anxiety: Feeling anxious or fearful can sap your energy and affect your working ability. This may hamper both your personal and professional lives. Having peace of mind can lessen your chances of being fearful and can significantly improve the overall quality of life.

Which is correct piece of mind or peace of mind?

People often confuse between the two as the two phrases appear to be quite similar. A piece of mind has a negative ring to it. It means admonishing somebody. So when you say: “I gave him a piece of my mind. He will never dare to speak to me again,” you mean that you admonished that person so much that he will never be able to speak to you again.

However, peace of mind is quite different. It means attaining a sense of comfort and happiness and reducing stress. So the phrase, “At my new job, I was finally able to achieve peace of mind,” you are talking about a happy psychological state of being. While using these phases, one should be careful about the spelling, as a slight difference in the letter may lead to a mistake.

How can I get peace of mind?

While we all might agree that we should strive to achieve peace of mind, but it is not that simple. It is not a mechanical exercise, rather a deep contemplative one. Here are a few things that might help:

• Start with the most daunting task in the morning. It can be anything – an exercise that you may hate or read a book that you hate. Once you successfully handle the most difficult task of the day, you will not only feel confident but also at peace with yourself.

• Try and let go of things that you do not control. As Dalai Lama says, if what is going to happen is in your control, there is no need to worry as you can easily change it. On the other hand, if what’s going to happen is not in your control then stress is of no use. Either way, you should let go of things that you cannot control.

• Do not worry about what others think of you. There will always be both critics and admirers of your work. If you are sure that what you are doing is good for you and not harming others, then go ahead and do it with the utmost conviction.

• Do not worry about results either. As the Bhagavad Gita says, you should always do your duty without worrying too much about the results. This would liberate you from the vicious cycle of anxiety.

• Be one with nature. Having inner peace also includes being at home with your surroundings. Our external environment deeply affects our mood and our way of thinking. Being surrounded by natural beauty is important for finding happiness from within. 

What does it mean to be someone’s peace of mind?

Peace of mind can be sought both for oneself and for someone you like. For a mother, her peace of mind can be her child, for a wife, it could be her husband. We human beings seek the peace of mind not just for ourselves but for our immediate family and spouses as well. 

To be someone’s peace of mind is as important as achieving your own. Once you are at peace with yourself, you are also in harmony with the people around you. The positive vibes you exude make the people around you happy. 

Therefore peace of mind is never a unidirectional exercise. It is always an exchange of energy, creativity, and positive vibrations. If everybody in your immediate circle – be it your spouse, your parents or your children – is happy and contented, you automatically feel calm without having to try too hard for it. 

What are Mantras for Peace of Mind?

Many holistic experts believe that chanting along with meditation may help in achieving happiness and inner peace. Chants or mantras do have healing properties.

When you chant a mantra, you are trying to connect with the larger universe around you through the power of sound. Here are some mantras that might help you to achieve inner tranquillity:

• OM: This is the primal chant and precedes all other mantras for the Hindus. When chanted correctly, it instantly connects you with the larger universe that resides outside yourself. When your inner vibrancy matches with that of the vibrancy of the cosmos, you feel instant bliss.

• Shiva Mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” is the mantra that is used to propitiate the god of destruction, Lord Shiva. Just as without destruction creation is not possible, without taking Shiva’s name, finding inner peace remains an elusive exercise.

• Vishnu Mantra: Popularized by ISKCON, the Vishnu Mantra is supposed to give you unbound joy and happiness. The Vishnu Mantra reads: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” By constantly chanting the various names by which Vishnu is known, you are filled with eternal joy and happiness.

• Buddhist chant: There are several Buddhist chants, either in the form of incantation or in the form of musical verse that can be recited regularly during meditation. One of the most popular ones is Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, which means “devotion to the mystic law of lotus sutra”. Buddhist healers highly recommend this chant for imbibing positive energy within yourself.

Which prayers can I read for peace of mind?

Prayer is an appeal to God for his divine blessings. Without his divine blessings achieving peace of mind is nearly impossible. Here are a few popular prayers:

Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra also called the Savitri Mantra, is a highly cherished mantra from the Rig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10). It is dedicated to Savitri, who is the deity of the five elements. Here is the full version: 

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः।

तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं।

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

“om bhur bhuvah svah

tat savitur varenyam

bhargo devasya dhimahi

dhiyo yo nah prachodayat”

Gayatri Mantra English Translation

“We meditate on the glory of the Creator;

Who has created the Universe;

Who is worthy of Worship;

Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;

Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance;

May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.”

Asatoma Sadgamaya

This Vedantic prayer is also effective in rekindling a spirit of optimism within you:

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

“asato ma sadgamaya,

tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,

mrtyor mamrtam gamaya”

Asatoma Sadgamaya English Translation

“Lead me from the unreal to the real

Lead from the darkness to the light 

Lead me from fear of death to immortality of the soul 

Let there be peace and peacefulness all around us.”

Shanti Mantra

The Shanti Mantras or “Peace Mantras” are Hindu prayers for Peace (Shanti) found in Upanishads. One of the most sacred mantra is given below:

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

“Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate

purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate

om santih santih santih”

Shanti Mantra English Translation

“May peace reign all over this earth, in water and all herbs, trees and creepers.

May peace flow over the whole universe.

May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman.

And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.

Om peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!”

What are the yoga poses for peace of mind?

Yoga emphasizes all-round wellness for peace and tranquility of the inner self, along with physical health. Here are some yoga poses for internal peace, stress relief, and general well being:

Sukhasana

Sit cross-legged on a mat with hands folded. Then gradually bend your entire torso until it reaches the surface of the ground. Hold this position for a few seconds and gradually revert to the original position.

Pranayam

Pranayam or breathing exercises are a miraculous cure for stress relief. All you need to do is to sit straight. Then with your right thumb press and close your right nostril, while inhaling from the left one.

Hold your breath for a fraction of a second. Then bring your index finger to your left nostril and exhale. Repeat the whole process many times. This releases your anxiety while enabling you to have better control over your breathing.

Halasana

First lie flat on a mat with your limbs straight. Then try to bring your legs gradually up over your head, until it reaches the ground. Hold this posture for 10 seconds.

Then bring down your legs gradually, until it lies flat on the ground. Repeat this exercise several times for the best results. This is also a great stretching exercise and releases tension and stiffness from the lower back area. 

Which are some of the best quotes for peace of mind?

From Dalai Lama to George Michael, here is what some famous people said about inner mental peace. Note that each of these quotes brings a unique point of view regarding mental peace and tranquillity:

• Dalai Lama: “Do not let the behaviour of others destroy your peace of mind.”

• George Michael: “You will never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.”

• Eleanor Roosevelt: “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

Which music should I listen for peace of mind?

There is a wide range of music available for calming your mind and soothing the frayed nerves. Not all music needs to be songs with lyrics. It can also be instrumental or percussion-based.

Certain string-based instruments create soothing sounds. So do sounds of nature. Think about the constant din of rainfall, the gurgling sound of a river, and the sound made by fireflies. All these sounds soothe our nerves and banish anxiety. 

What are the best peace-of-mind images?

Conclusion

Peace of mind refers to a happy state of being that is rapidly becoming an alien concept today. This article took a look at how to get peace of mind within the boundaries of domestic life.

We looked at mantra for peace of mind, followed by the prayer for peace of mind and yoga for peace of mind. We also saw how having peace of mind quotes, peace of mind music and peace of mind images can have a positive impact on the overall quality of your life.

ISCKON Temple, Dwarka, provides spiritual and cultural guidance to people to enhance their quality of life and elevate them to a higher level of consciousness.

ISKCON Dwarka brings a ‘Discover Your Permanent Happiness’ seminar to answer all the questions that you have been seeking. It is a 12-hour session spread across six days that can be a life-changing experience for all.

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