Inner Peace

I recently listened to a lecture given by Bilal Philips on this interesting topic. Searching for inner peace is an issue not exclusive to just Muslims, but rather a universal quest and is desired by all human beings.There are different channels to attaining this. The global village that we live in promotes its attainment through the rapid production of technology. In reality, however technology has only proven to improve on the convenience of life. If you study statistics, you will notice the numbers display that there are twice as many people dying of suicide than aids and homicides. An increase in suicide rates is a clear indication of a decline in inner peace. This finding rules out technology and other such material riches from our pursuit of internal harmony. We should distinguish between physical pleasure (which is what technological advancements provide) and inner peace. Physical pleasure is a temporal state, whereas inner peace is a sense of stability that carries us through the various experiences of life. 

Strategies of Attaining Inner Peace

1) Identify the obstacles.

2) Recognize them within yourself.

3) Organize these into two categories. Things you can change and others that are not within your range of control. Accept the characteristics that have been destined for you and focus less on these issues. Concentrate on the qualities that you are able to mould and improve upon.

Lesson: There is constant pressure from our surroundings to focus on qualities that are beyond our scope of control, whether it be our physical appearance, financial affluence or even familial matters. These demands are extremely narrow and only expect one desired outcome. Falling short from these expectations negatively affects our well being and prompts the hindrance of our growth. Don't be too consumed on these matters. Learn to accept these circumstances and shift your focus on enhancing qualities that you are able to control.