Definition of Inner Peace

Linda Luke (2018) defines inner peace as a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough
knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being “at peace” is considered
by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. For Fleischman (2003), inner peace is an aspect
of spiritual life that derives from the awareness of our own in substantiality. Inner peace is not a single emotion, but a
felt relation to the vast project of finding meaning and purpose within. Like any relationship, peace has its moods,
ascents, eclipses, and laws. Inner peace is a dimension of existence that is complex, variable and multifaceted.
The Nature of Inner Peace and Ways of Cultivating it
Inner Peace will grow in your life in proportion to its importance to you. The cultivation of inner peace is as
rational and orderly as any aspect of us despite our differing starting gates, nervous systems, and life experiences. A
person with temperament, or yearning, or philosophy that impels toward peace will find himself or herself confronted
with many difficulties.

• Peace is a form of mastery. It must be won.

• Peace is based on experiencing yourself outside of your old frame.

• Peace pervades personality in proportion to the shrinking of self-importance. Peace is faith in “other”.
We cultivate inner peace first by transforming ourselves rather than by hyper focusing on strategies and
schemes to control the world, by permitting our perspective to keep expanding to transhistorical eternal sight; by
attending to what is exclusive or parochial; and by dipping into realizations of our own impermanence, which creates
kinship rather than boundaries with all mortal things.

• Inner peace is much more than a nostalgic cloud. Its an adult concern, an urgent yearning than can motivate
mature lives, a potent life force.

• Inner peace is an aspect of spiritual life that derives from the awareness of our own in substantiality.

• Inner peace is not single emotion, but a felt relation to the vast project of finding meaning and purpose within
the context of incomprehensible infinitude.
People who obtained deep, recurrent, long abiding, life transforming, and outward-reaching experiences of
inner peace were found to share a common feature: surrender and reverence. Peace is peaceful.
The struggle for peace is a paradox: accepting, observing, letting go.
 Personal relationships are the theater in which peace has its validation. Its interpersonal qualities include
clarity, because it enables greater distance from personally driven needs and distortions.
According to Castro an Galace (2019), personal peace suggests that we respond to negative actions directed
to us in positive ways. for example, when we forgive rather than take revenge, and continue to do good to others,
despite the hurts that the others may have inflicted on us, then we can feel a better sense of wellness. Jing Lin (2006)
says that forgiveness is a key to achieving inner peace. Forgiveness frees our hearts and puts a stop to the exchange
of negative energies and intentions.
It is also good to remember that the major world religions have all taught the golden rule, whose essential
message is that we do to others what we want them to do to us. Similarly, as people pursue goal of personal peace,
this will contribute to a more peaceful community (Castro and Galace, 2019).
Inner peace and outer peace feed each other. We cannot say we have inner peace while ignoring violent
realities all around us; a violent outer sphere will certainly affect our inner state. As we cultivate inner peace, we also
need to nurture our aspiration and efforts to contribute to societal place (Castro and Galace, 2019).
Other peace-enhancing steps are offered by Linda Luke (2018)
1. Focus on the Present Moment
Easier said than done, right? You might be surprised how simple it is when you practice regularly. In moments
of stress, worry, or disease, try one of these easy strategies for grounding in the moment: take a few deep breaths with
your eyes closed, focusing on the air moving through you. Put your hand over your heart and count each breath you
take or simply listen within. Bring mindfulness to your movements and what is around you – feel and watch every detail.
Designate something as an anchor to your peaceful present moments, like the face of your watch, veins in your wrist,
or anything you can focus on quickly and easily to bring you back to a feeling of peace.
2. Inner and outer clutter are distracting and complicate our lives.
On some level they keep us on edge all the time. Creating a physical environment that is peaceful and calm
will nurture the same within you. Take a careful look at your pace, calendar and the people in your life. It may be time
to let some things go. When you are able to focus on what you love and what is meaningful to you, more peaceful
moments will follow. This isn’t selfish. When you are in calm and relaxed state you will be more effective in what you
do and present with the ones you love.
3. Create Daily Peace Practices
When you start and end your day with activities that calm and center you, the time in between will become
peaceful ass well. There are unlimited ways to do this and it is important to choose what feels right and you are willing
to commit to. Here are some ideas to get you started:
A. Journaling
B. Write daily gratitude
C. Meditation
D. Prayer
E. Pay attention to the beauty and magic in each day
F. Looking fir heart shapes around you
 G. Walking in nature
H. Reading meaningful or uplifting material
I. Live Simply
4. Don’t Marinate in Your Upsets
We are all faced with events and people that disturb our peace. It’s part of living in a world of humans. When
you are triggered, the feeling that comes as a response only lasts about a minute. The problem is that you keep
replaying the story and triggering the feeling over and over again. The opportunity here is to learn not to keep repeating
the story so that you can return to a peaceful state as soon as possible. Here are some of the strategies you might
choose to work with:
A. Give it a minute or two – let the feeling dissipate on its own
B. Any of the tools above for returning to the present moment
C. Ask yourself if being upset is serving you and if not, let it go.
D. Move into neutrality by observing yourself in the situation.
E. Imagine you are watching what is happening on a movie screen.
F. Bring compassion and understanding to all involved, knowing everyone is doing the best they are capable
of in that moment.

Creating a Peaceful Classroom

As the teacher, let peace begins with you. Every time something rubs you the wrong way, remind yourself
that you have resolved to be peaceful and would not allow yourself to explode. Radiate positive energy. Smile as you
greet others. Teach your students greetings of peace in local dialects or foreign languages and use it as a springboard
for a brief discussion on peace issues of the day, when applicable.
What is a peaceful classroom? The concept was first coined by William Kreidler, an elementary school teacher
and conflict expert who saw that conflict in the classroom was caused by many factors such as miscommunication,
exclusion, the inability to express feelings appropriately, and lack of care and respect for each other (Lantieri and Patti,
1996). A peaceful classroom is characterized by affirmation, cooperation, appreciation for diversity, appropriate
expression of feelings and peaceful conflict resolution.
There are more ways to help create an atmosphere of love an acceptance in our classrooms as cited by
Castro and Galace (2019):
1. Affirming your students
2. Expressing feelings appropriately
3. Encouraging respect and acceptance of differences
4. Employing more cooperative than competitive activities
5. Teaching students how to resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively.
6. Practicing students’ skills of communication Practicing students’ changing negative statements into positive.
 Hence, according to Castro and Galace (2019), a peaceable classroom is one where students feel safe and
secure. It is a place where they are free to be the person they are, cognizant of their responsibilities. It is a place where
they grow as persons without threats of being ridiculed, marginalized or hurt. Teachers can help build these kinds of
classrooms. If the principles of peace are taught and lived in the classroom, it will be easier for learners to carry on
these values and skills to their other spheres of interaction. Peace teachers should be happy that they have done their
share in building a society where the new norms are peaceable.

Answer the following questions neatly in a one whole sheet of paper.