When I started to run a business of my own, nobody told me the inner conflicts I would face regularly. People only told me that I’ll earn good money through hard work and good management. Today, I’m going to share some ways you can be level-headed so you can make the best decisions as you run your business.
1. Listen to soothing sounds
We all have that one place with an ambiance that puts us in a relaxed state. It may be the sound of waves on a beach, leaves rustling on the wind, or the sound of crickets on a summer night. Listen to these sounds. You can find plenty of them on YouTube.
2. Smile
Try to remember the last time that somebody randomly smiled at you and made your day. You can also do that to others and feel good. Even if you put up a fake smile, you’ll still feel a little inner peace.
3. Volunteer
The positive thing about helping others is that you replace your inner turmoil with love. Yes, you can care for those close to you. But why not go the extra mile and help other people in need? There are plenty of ways to do so. Donating to pantries and offering a hand is one example.
4. Practice acceptance
Experiencing negative emotions over things out of our control is normal. What’s not okay is that you let them get the best of you. Just learn to let go. If you think you could’ve done more this month in sales, don’t beat yourself up. Accept your mistakes, move on, and do better next time.
5. Just breathe
Stress is a vicious cycle of inner trouble. When you feel stressed, your breath narrows and invites even more negative thoughts. Maintain a conscious mind to always take deep breaths especially if you feel trapped. Better yet, leave your office and take a break outside.
6. Be mindful
We don’t know what our brains are doing most of the time. That’s why others catch us saying and doing things that aren’t healthy. Through mindfulness, you’re able to take a step back and find inner peace by analyzing your thoughts and actions before they are carried out.
7. Welcome humor
As the quote says, “Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.” The next time that you’re about to drown yourself in more misery out of the crap happening in your life, think and find a way to laugh about it. You’re the only person in the world who has the right to make fun of yourself.
8. Forgive and forget
Life is short. Harboring grudges is one of the worst ways to spend time in this world. People wrong us all the time. There’s nothing much you can do but reprimand them for their actions. Peace is a choice. Choose to avoid conflict, especially within yourself.
9. Avoid craving recognition
Only the most special people such as your family and close friends recognize the efforts you put in to grow your business. Everybody else just doesn’t care. You shouldn’t expect too much. If you get commended, that’s good. If you don’t, that’s fine as well.
There’s this favorite dialogue of mine from the movie Evan Almighty. As God, portrayed by Morgan Freeman, said, “If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”
The lesson is, if you want inner peace, don’t wait for it to come to you, actively seek it out. Take your internal troubles as an opportunity to practice the act of finding happiness in your life.
Want more tips to live a happy solopreneur’s life? Read these articles!
