Finding Peace in the Chaos

No matter what gender, age, or experiences we are carrying, there is one thing we have in common: We all want more peace in our lives.

But it's often not easy to pinpoint that it's peace we're searching for. Wanting more peace comes out in sentences more like:

“I don’t know what decision to make.”

“I feel stuck.”

“I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

“I wish I knew what my purpose is.”

“I want to beat this addiction and be myself again.”

“I hate that I let other people steal my confidence.”

“I need to stick to my goals this year.”

All these sentences point to very different circumstances, but they all illuminate the lack of peace. There’s a lack of peace that comes from not being ourselves, getting off course, and letting life take over and blur the lines of authenticity.

We all crave peace, but peace is a loaded word. A lack of peace means a disruption, an obstacle, and a feeling of not being ourselves. Peace does not mean life is easy—it means we can hear ourselves above the noise, even when there is chaos and uncertainty.

And there will always be chaos and uncertainty, but these things can exist alongside a calm drumbeat of peace.

A lack of peace means there is an internal struggle, and to be clear, the goal is not to always have peace. Feeling disrupted or disturbed is a gift that points us in a better direction if we listen.

Your Takeaway

Think about where you feel “off” in your life. Where are there jagged edges where you wish there could be peace? Is it in your relationships, the resentment you carry from your past, or the goals you have that you keep dismissing?

Peace comes in snippets, not when we’ve reached this magical place where we’ve figured life out completely and everyone else is following our master plan. Peace comes when we are tapped into who we are, and we can ride the waves of disappointment and pain without numbing ourselves to them.

It comes when we are present in this moment, even when it’s not an ideal moment. It comes when we surrender ourselves completely to hard work instead of looking for hacks around it.

I’ve witnessed it enough times to know that peace shows up in our souls when we take the time to sit with who we are and plant our feet firmly in that space instead of being distracted by who we think we should be or how our lives could have been.

In other words, peace comes softly, sweetly, and subtly, beneath the blaring deceit of self- doubt, comparison, and anxiety. It’s always there, waiting for us to exhale long enough in silence to let it break through the walls we’ve put up.

You can achieve this peace this week, but it’s not a one-and-done task. It takes work and revisiting to maintain it, especially since life is always changing and peace is needed in different ways.

This week, look for moments when you feel peace. Is it when you’re with friends and family? Is it when you are tapped into meaningful work? Is it when you’re in nature in total silence?

No matter when peace comes to you this week, I bet it will be accompanied by the feeling that you are being yourself without second guessing it. Don’t let the moments pass you by—write them down this week, so you can have proof of what peace feels like to you, and when you feel it.

Peace is not elusive. It’s always just under the surface, and the more we can recognize its presence, the more we can move toward choices that bring us close to it more often.

Pay attention this week, take notes, and I hope you feel peace, even in the tangles.

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Looking for life coaching in Dayton, Ohio? Email me rebecca@coachdayton.org , if you're ready to be your authentic self and uncover your purpose and potential.