6 Habits to Drop to Have More Mental Peace

Do you have everything you need in life but still feel worried?

Are you the type that tends to lose your calm often?

We each have basic needs in life. Yet, we can argue that, the most basic need to live well is peace.

Even if we have everything in the world, but no mental peace to enjoy it, would it not all be worthless?

What is the cost of keeping your cool? How much is a good nights sleep worth?

What does it matter if you’re wealthy yet in a constant state of overwork?

These are questions I asked myself when it came to measuring my mental health.

Let’s see how making a few changes in everyday life can greatly impact yours.

Here are some things to release so you can realign your mind:

1. Gossip & Rumors

Gossip and Rumors can be destructive to our relationships.

They bring stress, Restlessness and uncertainty. It is best to avoid talking about others for pleasure.

“Some people talk about other people’s failures with so much pleasure that you would swear they are talking about their own successes.” ~Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Once you start staying away from all the drama you will start feeling light and peaceful.

Gossiping about others is taking away your mental peace.

It's like a poison that slowly eats away at your soul.

Every time you gossip, you're giving away a piece of yourself.

A piece of your integrity.

A piece of your intellect.

A piece of your maturity.

A piece of your purity.

A piece of your sensibility.

A piece of your sincerity.

A piece of your mind.

And eventually, there's nothing left. Just an empty husk with a hole that must be filled with more gossip.

So, if you want to keep your mental peace, let go of gossiping about others.

Realize that, those who gossip WITH you will most likely gossip ABOUT you.

I have discovered one of the best ways to get rid of gossip.

When someone is about to start gossiping to me about someone else I ask, “Why are you telling me this?”

This will make it so the person has to ask themselves the question. Which usually leads to them changing the subject.

Side note: Instead of gossiping about others shortcomings, it is much better to celebrate others success. This has a hidden benefit of bringing you back blessings like you would not believe.

2. Stimulants

Stimulants can take away from your mental peace by causing you to feel anxious and stressed.

You may feel like you can focus or concentrate temporarily, but eventually your mind may feel foggy.

It’s like swiping a credit card. The energy you borrowed will soon have to be paid back.

You may also experience side effects such as insomnia, irritability, and headaches.

I remember working at a job that I absolutely hated. It was solely a means to make money and survive during a difficult time.

This job had me on a night shift from 10 at night till 10 in the morning. This was when I developed a crazy caffeine habit. Today I can admit I was a total addict.

I would start my shift with a Fuji apple. Then I would graduate to a couple Gatorade‘s. Then I would try to revitalize with Red Bull. Then I would make the most out of a Monster energy drink. Finally, if that did not carry me into the morning, I would take half of an Adderall.

Needless to say, this led to a less than energetic life. One that was much more frenetic and lacked any sense of fulfillment.

Stimulants can also make it difficult to regulate your emotions, leading to mood swings.

They negate the necessity for your body’s natural energy levels.

They convince your mind that you can keep going, even when you need rest.

While they may act as a quick fix to our problems, they don't have long lasting benefits.

The more the alcohol, tea and coffee we consume, the more anxieties we have.

This is also due to the “Law of Diminishing Returns”.

The more dopamine hits, the more numb we get, and it is never as good as the first time.

In the long term, it can also lead to aggression.

Do yourself a favor and say “goodbye” to this cycle.

As you gradually reduce your consumption, you will notice a significant shift in your mental peace.

3. Negative News

Watching the news can keep you informed on the affairs of the world. But excessive consumption of news or binge-watching negative content can lead to loneliness and depression.

It also negatively impacts your sleep pattern.

I remember watching my parents watch the news all day long.

As I watched them watch the news, I was able to see the rise and fall of their moods.

It became apparent that there was always something negative going on in their minds. As though, no matter what good things happened, things never seemed fine. I took this as my own sign to draw a clear line.

Instead of watching things that tire you, why not watch things that inspire you?

Watching uplifting content does not drain your energy. In fact, it gives you even more for the day.

All the negativity of bad news can be overwhelming and make you feel like there's no hope. Especially at the very start of your day.

It's easy to get caught up in the spiral of doom and gloom and forget all the good in the world.

Constantly being exposed to bad news can take a toll on your mental health.

How can you stay positive when it feels like everything around you is the opposite?

Watching negative news can make you more anxious and stressed.

It's important to take a break from the news sometimes to really be at your best.

Too much negative news can sap your power and make you feel power-less.

Remember: The News is just a tiny snapshot of what's happening in the world.

There's a lot of good in the world, even if it doesn't make the news.

For every one negative thing that we are shown, imagine there are 10 positive things that go by unknown.

What you focus on the longest grows the strongest in your life.

Start to focus on the positive things. Not for vanity, but for your own sanity.

Focusing on the positive can help you maintain your mental peace and well-being.

4. Dwelling on the past

“There’s a reason why your windshield is bigger than your rear view mirror. Where you're going is more important than where you came from.”

It's important to live in the present and not dwell on the past.

If you dwell on the past, you're not living in the present.

You can't change the past, so there's no use dwelling on it. What's done is done, who you are is who you’ve become.

It's okay to let go of the past and move on with your life. This will lead to reduced stress and a lot less strife.

When you focus more on the positivity of the present, you increase your mental power.

If you dwell in the past, you'll miss out on what's happening NOW.

NOW is an acronym for No Opportunity Wasted.

Many opportunities fly by unnoticed to the ones who are focused on their failures of the past.

Don't let the past hold you back from living a happy and peaceful life.

Over time it will only take away your mental peace.

And, let’s be honest, is the price of your peace a cost you are willing to pay?

Here’s a way to reclaim and reframe your past: Instead of regretting who you were, be grateful for how far you’ve come.

Instead of feeling shameful for what you’ve done, embrace the good you’re doing today.

5. Constant Comparison

“To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are.” ~Anonymous

Comparing yourself to others is taking away your mental peace.

It's like being in a constant battle with yourself, always trying to measure up and never feeling good enough.

It's exhausting and can lead to a lot of self-doubt and negative self-talk.

You’ve most likely heard that comparison is the thief of all joy.

It can rob you of your own realness, and be the casualty of your most endearing qualities.

If you find yourself comparing yourself frequently, try to take a step back and focus on your own journey.

Appreciate your own progress and unique talents and traits.

Remind yourself that you are on your own path and that comparison is only holding you back from enjoying your life.

This can be drastically improved by letting go of this next habit.

6. Non- Stop Scrolling

Social media is a tool that can turn into a constant source of distraction.

The difference is all in the way that we use it, and it is fairly easy to start to abuse it.

If you find tha you’re never able to fully focus on anything, it may be time for a dopamine detox.

Your mind can be fooled into a FOMO frequency. Always racing with thoughts of what you're missing out on.

When you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, you may start feeling inadequate.

You begin wondering if you're really living your best life.

You lose the patience to be present in the moment.

You're always worrying about what others think of you.

You're always wondering if you're really happy.

You're always looking for validation from others.

You're always questioning your own worth.

But you are priceless, are you not?

And so is your attention.

Start by evaluating how much time you spend on social media each day. Once you have a number in mind, try to cut down on that time by 10-15%.

One way to do this is to set a timer for yourself and stick to it. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media, try to break the habit by doing something else instead.

Get up and stretch, move around, read a book, or call a friend.

Once you start to break the habit, you'll likely find that, you have more time for other things. This kind of momentum can work magic, and that can be a good thing!

Thanks for reading! Tell us in the comments one thing that you want to stay away from for your mental health.

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Much love