Happiness is often confused for inner peace. The two are not the same. There is a huge difference between being happy and finding a genuine inner peace. I have learned that we can be having a miserable experience and still be at the core at peace.

We can be suffering through the loss of a loved one, career, belief or be in a health crisis and still have an inner peace.. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune. Accept what is, let go of what was, have faith in what will be and we eventually attain inner peace.

Peace comes within the souls of men, when they realize their oneness with the universe; when they realize it is really everywhere; it is within each one of us. ~Black Elk~

I have learned that the bottom line of achieving peace of mind is tied directly to how we graciously accept what is, as opposed to demanding life be some other way for peace to be within us.

When we learn to get in touch with the silence within ourselves and know that everything in this life has a purpose, there is no need to go to Las Vegas nor anywhere else to find peace. We will find that deep place of silence right in our room, our garden or even our bathtub.

It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. There is no other way to peace, peace is the way. If there is peace within us, there is room for another mind. 

To walk when others are running; to whisper when others are shouting; to smile when others are angry; to pause when others are hurrying; to pray when others are doubting; to know inner calm in spite of everything…  that is serenity

All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.--Thomas a Kempis

True peace can be experienced only when we stop giving and taking sorrow. In order not to give sorrow we need a clear heart that has no ill feelings and for not taking sorrow we need a big heart that can tolerate and help other souls to get over their weaknesses.

No one can find inner peace except by working, not in a self-centered way, but for others. The simplification of life is one of the steps to inner peace. A persistent simplification will create an inner and outer well-being that places harmony in our life. Nothing can bring us peace but ourselves. 

Deep inside our consciousness is an oasis of peace. This is the molten core of the soul, but it is not hot, it is cool; not passive, but a source of inner power to fuel our mind and intellect, so that we can create powerful thoughts and make accurate decisions. If we can learn to go to this center, peace will be our companion, positivity our partner, and we will be able to chill out in one second, anywhere, anytime.

 By Tim Pedrosa

While happiness is that shallow and temporary fix we get from stuff, position and comfort, peace is that deep ability to not define the real self by such elusive qualities. Inner peace is the ability to say "is that so" when life does what it does and defeat the drama queen in all of us with presence.

 

Tim