by Pennee Struckman

Created on: December 27, 2009   Last Updated: December 28, 2009

Looking for fast ways to gain inner peace? There are simple measures you can take to relieve your turmoil and restore balance to your life.

Remember that no one has really lived unless they have some regrets. Make peace with your regrets. If you need to apologize or make amends, do it. If the person does not accept this, let it go.

Exercise 30 minutes each day. Take the dog for a walk, or, better yet, take a walk with your kids and your partner. Buy some free weights and do bicep curls and other arm exercises. Aim for 25 leg lifts or ab crunches each day. Park farther away from the store and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Increase the intensity of your exercise as you go. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, feel good brain chemicals that assist in peace of mind.

Read a book or magazine for 30 minutes each day. The concentrated effort of reading is like a mental vacation from your troubles.

If you tend to worry, write down the things you worry about. Make an appointment with yourself to worry for one hour each week. Keep the list going, and keep the appointment. What you will find is most of the worries are worth the time in your worry hour.

Give yourself a break. You will never be perfect; you will always have something to learn, and something to change. Realize that everyone has something they don’t like about themselves or their life.

Avoid being self-reflective. Don’t spend a lot of time each day contemplating what could have been or where you went wrong. Change what you can about your life, and accept the rest. Life is an adventure, filled with ups and downs, just like a roller coaster. Enjoy the ride.

Accept yourself as you are. Acknowledge your shortcomings and your strengths. Humans are creatures of balance, and each one of us has faults and abilities. Set a goal to overcome your faults and to capitalize on your abilities.

Do something for another person everyday. Help a person get an item off the top shelf in the grocery store, give someone the parking space or let a car in front of you in traffic. There are situations that present themselves daily that will provide opportunities for kindness.

Inner peace is freedom from stress and anxiety, and living peacefully with others. As you practice kindness, accept yourself, and begin to take care of yourself, inner peace will rest in your heart.

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