1) Non-interference in Others’ Affairs Unless Asked to Do So

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’ affairs.  When they turn around and say “who asked you to interfere”, we feel bad about it. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic, and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered in the right direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and, consequently, the existence of a higher Reality.

Each one of us is a unique manifestation. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way because each one of us is at a different physical, psychological, and intellectual evolutionary level, as well as on the spiritual path. All men and women act the way they do, driven by nature’s programming within. If we mind our own business, we will keep our peace.

2) Forgive and Forget

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our hearts for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances or hold grudges. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but the nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. 

Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” The people whom we hate occupy a rent-free space in our hearts. We need to get over this bad habit. Forgiveness is the answer — let go, find peace, and liberate yourself!  Remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on, and try to do better next time.

Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive, forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3) Do Not Crave for Recognition

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anyone without selfish motives. They may praise us today because we are in power or they benefit from us, but no sooner than we are powerless or they cease to benefit from us, they will forget our achievements and start finding faults in us. Why should we wish to kill ourselves while striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. We should do our duties ethically and sincerely.

4) Do Not Be Jealous

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. We know that we work harder than our colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; we do not. We started a business several years ago, but we are not as successful as our neighbor, whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should we be jealous? No.

Remember, everybody’s life is shaped by his / her destiny, which has now become his / her reality. If we are destined to be wealthy, nothing in the world can prevent it. If we are not so destined, nothing or no one can help us either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for our misfortune. Jealousy will not get us anywhere; it will only take away our peace of mind. Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of our own.  Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

5) Adjust According to the Environment

If we try to change the environment, the chances are we will fail. We should change what we can, accept what we cannot change, and accordingly adjust ourselves to our environment. We should also have the wisdom to know the difference between what we can and what we cannot change, so that we do not waste our time and energy attempting to do the impossible. As we do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to us, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6) Endure What Cannot Be Cured

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day, we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with them. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. We should believe in ourselves, and we will gain in terms of patience, inner strength, and willpower.

7) Not to Bite off More Than One Can Chew

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take on more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. We try to be everything to everyone. This is done to satisfy our egos. Doing so is impossible and trying will only burn us out. We should know our limitations. Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? We cannot gain peace of mind by expanding our external activities.

Making one person smile can change the world — not the whole world, but that one person’s world. So we need to narrow our focus. We need to reduce our material engagements and spend time in introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in our minds that make us restless. Uncluttered minds will produce greater peace of mind and better work output.

8) Meditate Regularly

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it. If we meditate earnestly for fifteen minutes every day, our mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three hours and forty-five minutes. Our minds will not be as easily disturbed as it were before.

We would benefit from gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. We may think that this will interfere with our daily work. On the contrary, this will increase our efficiency, and we will be able to produce better results in less time.

9) Never Leave the Mind Vacant

An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. We need to keep our minds occupied with something positive, worthwhile, or spiritual. We should actively follow a hobby or do something that holds our interest. We must decide what we value more: money or peace of mind. Our hobbies, like social work or spiritual practices, may not always earn us more money, but we will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when we are resting physically, we should occupy ourselves with healthy reading, like books on positive thinking or contemplating higher reality.

Every positive thought is a silent prayer that will change our life.

10) Do Not Procrastinate and Never Regret

Do not waste time in protracted wondering, Should I or Shouldn’t I? Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debate. We can never plan enough because we can never anticipate all future happenings. We should value our time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if we fail the first time. We can learn from our mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead us nowhere. Whatever is destined not to happen will never happen. Try as you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you can to prevent it. This is certain.

We should never brood over the past. Do not regret. Life is not a continuous procession of past regrets and future anxieties. Never ever live with regret. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilled milk?

Stop trying to hold on to the past.

You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.