If peace begins within ourselves, then why is it that we are unable to attain it so easily?

No matter what stops you from having inner peace, there are ways of achieving it and it all begins with you. You can blame your lack of peace in your environment, past, present or future, but the way you perceive things is how your mindset works.

My mother used to tell me that if you believed you could or could not do something, then whatever you thought, would happen. Your perception and mindset are everything when it comes to your mentality. As cliche as this may sound, If you have faith in yourself then you are able to execute anything you set your mind to. The mind is a powerful machine that works based on perception and determination. Both are building blocks to the foundation that creates the way we process daily events.

A strong, forgiving and open-minded mentality allows for even the most anxious of individuals to face hardships with confidence. In addition, we must all be forgiving of ourselves and the things we have and have not done. We must be reminded that our past does not reflect our character entirely unless we allow it to. Forgiving the person you were and accepting the faults that may come along, are not only essential for inner peace but are crucial for loving yourself. Loving yourself is so important in today's world since you cannot love someone else without loving yourself.

Finally, we must keep moving forward. Through the good and bad times, we must push for the peace we have kept hidden from ourselves. This does not require setting strict rules or boundaries. If you struggle one day but succeed another, do not see that as regression. Rather take everything with a grain of salt. The best things in life are not rushed or given to us instantly. Some things just happen when they happen and that is okay. Now finding peace from within is not as easy as saying or writing how to achieve it. Heck, I struggle with it almost every day since little things get the best of me. Instead of trying to grasp it all at once, allow for time and acceptance to do its job. I have learned that when I welcome things with optimistic and forgiving arms, I am able to accept whatever comes my way. Regardless of what stops you from finding inner peace, we as a society must keep moving forward in order to find true peace in the midst of this chaotic thing we call life.