To ask if you’ve achieved inner peace and if so, how?

[MerryPinkCritic]

It feels like everyone talks about mindfulness, healing, letting go of drama, etc., but I wonder how many people actually feel at peace deep down. Have you genuinely reached a place where you’re content, grounded and not constantly battling yourself? And if you have, what helped you get there?

(Or is it all just something we talk about more than actually experience?)

Giving less fecks what people think.

Won't be a popular response on Mumsnet I know (understatement 😂), but becoming a Christian in my twenties and then deepening my faith in the past few years. Its brilliant....you have meaning and purpose, you know someone up there is ultimately running the show, you have an identity and a value which doesn't depend on fragile things like relationships and careers and that nothing can take away from you. Something absolutely horrendous happened to me about two years ago which I wouldn't have got through otherwise.

God.

Giving less fucks as @ConcordeSkyHighsays, getting into my 40s, not drinking alcohol… losing family members and friends has put a lot of things into perspective.

I think I’m at the start of menopause (I’m in my 40’s) day by day I just seem to have less fucks to give. I’m still cheerful and friendly etc I’m just not emotionally invested in a lot of things now. It’s really nice tbh. I still have my days but as the weeks go by I feel the weight of giving a shit slowly lifting.

Mid 50s. Feel content. I have a lot of love in my life and am at peace with who I am, warts and all. I avoid doing things I don’t like and enjoy a pretty simple life.

Yes, it’s the art of not giving a fuck! (It’s a book!)

God no. I have a great life but no peace at all. Full of anxiety, worry and regret. I wish I could find peace

I've achieved it through a combination of being older (sixties) gardening, sea swimming, learning to say no, giving up alcohol, stopping buying things I don't need and taking pleasure in the small things in life.

Key was making a concerted effort not to give two hoots about things that don't matter or are outside of my control. Also, avoiding people who were bringing me down.

@UsernameMcUsername I am so sorry you had a horrible experience and hope you are ok now 💐

Having a daily meditation practice and spiritual faith really helps.

This. But i have not achieved this in the slightest!!

Practising yoga every day

Stoicism mostly. I’m not a scholar but even the lightweight version of it helped me find a degree of calm.

having said that, it’s hard sometimes to put it into practice - when the outside world intrudes and seems to be unfixable. Eg DH is having a really hard time with work / health just now. I find it very hard to switch off from his moods, depression, frustration because I live with him and I love him. It’s hard to step away from that.

Pretty much this, plus giving very few fucks about anything very much outside of my own childrens' wellbeing. Nothing else is life or death and won't matter one jot in a few days/ weeks / months.

Living in the moment. DD2 has severe depression and I realised taking care of her was going to break me if I didn’t do something, so I decided to appreciate the nice things when they come along. It’s all little things but they add up and help to get through the bad times, of which there are plenty unfortunately!

Oh yes, it's the "what can I actually control or change" thing. In a lot of cases, such as policies at work, I can have a little rant with a colleague about it being ridiculous but then just get on with it and let the management flail around. Not my job to deal with it so I don't. When it goes tits up I have a little eye roll and do the next one.

I've achieved it, I had an aggressive cancer diagnosis at the age of 50, I am so lucky to be here 11 years later. It really changed my outlook on life, I appreciate what I have, and enjoy my life, and get joy from simple things. I think it helps that I no longer have to work, I don't do stress.

I agree with the giving less fucks approach. Also other cliches like don’t worry about things you can’t control. You literally can’t especially when it involves other people. The ‘Let Them’ theory is basically this.
I used to be more bothered about what people thought in my 20’s but now I rarely care unless it’s someone very close to me.
I’ve never been a particularly anxious person but if something difficult happens I tend to journal my thoughts to process them which helps and stops rumination.
Not sure if that’s quite inner peace, but my life is peaceful when I want it to be, and drama free. Being single helps!

Quite recently I heard Joanna Lumley say that she doesn’t spend time ‘finding herself’ as she is as ‘shallow as a puddle.’ And it was like a light bulb went off in my head. Realising that I, too, am as shallow as a puddle (I think it might well be quite a stoic way of looking at life) has really helped me to stop overthinking and just get on with things without all the analysis paralysis or ‘battling with myself,’ as you put it.

I do, however, also have excellent physical and mental health, which I never take for granted.

I gave caring what others think.
I live a lone stayed single best choice i made 12 years on still love it.
And i dont give a flying fuck.

Saw that clip too. She's such a sage!

Completely agree with this. I just can't imagine how inner peace is possible without this.

For my part, I'm less of an anxious mess at 43 than 33, 23 or 13. Seem to be mellowing with age thank christ.

Being single, living with my ds17 somewhere green & beautiful.

Approaching the end of my mortgage. No-one can take my home away from me. Knowing that if push came to shove I could retire tomorrow and we would survive OK.

All the pressure, the threat has gone, which means I can do my job, while feeling relaxed.

It's a massive relief.

I too agree with this- also aware this isn’t going to get much love on here which is fine! I don’t think religion brings peace but an inner relationship with God/Jesus brings a sense of stability and peace even when things are really shit.

Haven't got anything to to lose by trying it I guess!