5- Forgive and Don’t be Unjust

Think of Your Hardships as Blessings in Disguise

Taking patience in dealing with people one step further, do your best to forgive and never be unjust. The path of injustice is a path which takes a person away from the path of God.

If you are searching for inner peace, forgive and overlook people’s mistakes, and don’t take revenge for your personal satisfaction. Be patient and fair, and Allah will love you, bring you closer to Him and increase you in inner peace.

6- Slow Down and Don’t Overload Yourself with Responsibilities

We all have responsibilities in life, and in the modern world of today life gets more complicated each year, with more speed, new and faster technologies, and more stress all the time for most people.

In such an environment one needs to find the right balance in order to live a life of peace, and taking on too many responsibilities is often counter-productive.

Try to reduce your daily load till you reach the right balance, and don’t be in a hurry, as it’s best to do a small number of tasks well than doing too many under stress and without perfection.

Remember, this life is a mere transition, and we won’t take our wealth with us to the Hereafter, so live a balanced life if you are searching for peace.

Sometimes we go through weeks and months when we are running most of the day, either due to a high work load or too many engagements and matters to attend to, or both.

When life gets too busy and you can’t find peace, try to slow down a bit. Driving when you are relaxed and not in a hurry is very different from driving when you are in a hurry and pressed for time.

The same applies to all other life activities: walking to the train with serenity is not like running to catch that last train. All these details accumulate and at the end of the day one ends up either stressed or at peace. So try to slow down if you are searching for peace, it will certainly help.

7- Take Time Off

Content Though the Heart is Aching - What's the Secret?

Take time off when you need it. After a busy time at work or studies for exams, it’s important to take some time off to recharge batteries; both spiritual and physical. Taking time off gives a chance for reflection and deep thinking, a chance to refresh one’s ideas and clear pending matters. Time off also allows for contemplation and being closer to God, the only real source of peace.

8- Take Life One Day at a Time

Sometimes we feel like there are so many problems to deal with this week, next month or next year, but we forget that each problem has a solution, and that we don’t cross our bridges till we get there.

When feeling stress due to future problems, it is wise to unwind by taking it one day at a time. Yes, one should plan ahead and do one’s best, but at the end of the day it is Allah who decides what will eventually happen, so we need to ask Him to guide us to what is best for us in this world and in the Hereafter.

9- Look at the Positive Side of Life

Being positive most of the time is one of the ways which leads to inner peace. Each event we experience has its positive and negative sides. Sometimes the positives are greater than the negatives, and in some cases it’s the other way round. Even when a believer experiences a negative event, he/she is advised to look at its bright or positive side, as only focusing on the negative side leads a person to losing hope.

We must remember that there is always hope, and even if we can’t immediately understand the positive side of the matter we face, it is there, and by thinking and reflecting we can benefit from lessons learned, even after weeks or months, and gain more experience. So be positive and patient if you are searching for peace  

10- Be Content and Satisfied

Live Within the Limits of Your Day

Even if the external environment is hostile or hard, a content believer would still be happy.

Why?

Because happiness comes from the heart, it comes from the inside. If the external factors are good, this would help increase happiness, but if they are unfavorable if one is content one would still be happy.

If you are searching for real peace and happiness, not temporary pleasures, start by refining your heart and coming closer to God, and when you become content with what God has provided you and the many blessings you have you will find inner peace.

An important way to achieve that is to lower expectations regarding worldly matters, and to remember those who have less than you and thank God for His many bounties and blessings.

(From Discovering Islam archive)