Finding Peace Amidst Chaos

This is the first in a special series of guest posts based on Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata. This series will run throughout the month of October. You can view the posting schedule here.

Today’s guest blogger is Danny from Be Inspired Every Day.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

Most of us are aware of how our fast-paced, stressful lives can harm our immune systems and rob quality of life. So, we try to relax from time to time: take a bath, read a book, take a vacation.

But, moments of true silence and relaxation are few and far between for most of us. They are rare breaks from real life in a world that is noisy, obnoxious and busy. Real life is exhausting and stressful. We reserve peace and joy for those rare moments we manage to escape real life.

But, why are happiness, peace and contentment not apart of real life? This passage of Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata suggests that it can be. We can choose to be at peace, to be calm, even when the world around us is not.

Nazi concentration camp survivor, author and psychotherapist, Viktor Frankl, reminds us that what happens in the world around us does not have to determine the way we feel about our lives. In his book, Man’s search for meaning, he shares his experiences in Auschwitz and how he was able to maintain meaning and purpose in life and even find joy and happiness amidst unimaginable horror. Suddenly, when I consider frustration over a busy checkout lane or failing to enjoy a meal because the service took too long, it seems absurd.

Here are a few ideas on how to follow Ehrmann’s advice:

1. Take breaks to reflect. Whenever possible, take a break to reflect on the moment. Even short breaks can be a helpful reminder of peace in silence and recharge resistance to noise and haste. My post, Quiet Moments for a Better Life, addresses this idea more deeply.
2. Practice silent meditation. The calming effects of silent meditation can carry us through chaos with inner peace that is nearly impossible to disrupt. It is an experience that I found difficult to believe before experiencing it myself. For a general guide to meditation, see How to Meditate Effectively.
3. Look for gems. No matter how much chaos surrounds us, we can always find things that make us feel joy and calm. It could be another person’s actions, an item, such as a picture, or an observation. Look actively for these and you will find them.
4. Slow down. Multi-tasking and running from task to task tend to have an ironically negative effect on productivity and rob us of our ability to truly enjoy life. In order to find the gems mentioned above, it is necessary to slow down.
5. Be independent of the opinions of others. Concerning ourselves with the opinions of others who may be involved in the noise and haste makes it difficult to avoid getting caught up in it. I think that as this Desiderata series continues, there will be discussion of self-image and confidence which are helpful in detaching from the opinions of others.
6. Be tolerant of the actions of others. Avoid the temptation to be pulled into drama and chaos by attempting to judge and project your values onto others. If you choose to judge, you will feel the need to observe actions you find disturbing.
7. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Daylle Deanna Schwartz from Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat will be covering this very topic later in this series.

You may also be interested in my post on a similar topic: 7 Ways to be Inspired When Surrounded by Negativity.