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In the world we live in today, achieving inner peace may seem an unattainable goal. We are busy people with full-time jobs and families. We have a lot to do and not enough time in which to do it all. We have no quiet time to ourselves, hardly get enough sleep and barely make it through the day as it is. Who has time to learn about inner peace?

We all do. Our everyday lives present multiple opportunities to practice inner peace, and it will take practice. Just like any other habit, our minds are used to working in a certain way. Take the time to think deeper into your reactions, your emotions, and what makes you happy. The answers may surprise you. Here are a few quick tips to get you started.

1. Practice being a calmer person. There are so many times a day we find ourselves getting stressed out about little things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of life. Caught in a traffic jam? Someone bumped into you in the hall and didn't say "sorry"? Maybe you lost your favorite pair of earrings. These little irritations can add up if you let them and by the end of the day you are pissed off and stressed out. But you know what? If you take a moment to really think about it, they don't matter. Save your anger and frustration for the big things, the things that change your life.

2. Learn to meditate. I will admit to once thinking meditation was hokey and for new-agers only. But when my stress level sky-rocketed after my divorce I tried everything I could to put some balance back in my life. It was exactly what I needed. Meditation teaches you how to let go of the worries of the past and the fear of the future. It anchors you to the here and now, and pulls all those little fragmented parts of you back to center. It is quite powerful. If you think you have no time to spare, take 15 minutes right before you go to sleep, or when you wake up. There are many wonderful books available that will guide you if you don't know how to begin.

3. Realize that change is the only constant in your life. We all want things to stay the same, because "right now" is comfortable and familiar. But that doesn't mean it is good for us. By wanting things to stay the same we are inducing suffering because life is not static. This means we must be comfortable with uncertainty, a tall order which can be achieved by living intentionally. You are the creator of your moods and emotions; don't let outside forces around you dictate how you feel at any given moment. That is entirely up to you. Accept the fact that the past is gone and the future is unknown; then keep your attention on what is happening now. Living life in the moment is one of the key ingredients to inner peace.

4. Learn to forgive. This applies to ourselves as well as others. This does not mean you are condoning the offense, but take time to acknowledge it, then let it go. This is a difficult step but it is made easier when we remember that without forgiveness, we are stuck in the past. Every time we punish the person (or ourselves) in our minds, we are re-living the act again and again. This breeds unhappiness that could have been avoided. Let it go and move forward.

It is liberating to realize we always have a choice in how we feel, how we react, how we live. Common irritations don't have to automatically set off your anger. Sit back and examine the choices. Chances are you'll choose something that makes you happy, and that is the way to inner peace.

Learn more about this author, Diane Callahan.
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