11 Tips for Peaceful Living (Philosocom's Peace Guide)
Updated: Sep 25
(Philosocom's Directory:
Finding Serenity: Tips for the Highly Sensitive (And The Generally-Stressed)
In a world of constant noise and other stimulation, not everyone is capable of enduring it all and still preserving their sense of peace. One of the reasons why I, for example, have disabled commenting on my Quora account, is because not everyone has the fortune of having average or below sensitivity.
You might say, however, that sensitivity is a virtue, one to be cultivated and celebrated. However, at least in my personal experience, sensitivity often comes with a lot of stress, as highly sensitive individuals react more extremely to it than others. Furthermore, sensitivity can be a double-edged sword, leaving you constantly prepared for the next emotional distress, caused by things and beings most may find plausible to endure.
Thus, in order to at least try to better the situation of those who suffer from sensitivity, here are useful 11 Tips for Peaceful Living that can help all of us live life more peacefully and get closer to the desired state of serenity:
Don't listen to aggressive or emotional music too often. They breed the temptation to go out of one's peaceful sphere. This can also include annoying, repetitive advertisements on TV. As such, music with explicit lyrics and aggressive beats may contribute to increased aggression. This could appply to any form of media, video games included.
2. Depend your happiness on the functionality of your surroundings, as little as possible. Depending on your wellbeing on the activities of others would likely to make you frustrated than satisfied, because no one is held responsible for your mood, even if they affect it in some way. The ethical theory of social responsibility is opposed by the darker side of liberty.
In addition, as the stoic philosopher Epictetus has said, there are things which you can control and things you cannot. The attempt to hope that one day the uncontrollable will be shaped in your expectations, is likely to result in long-term disappointment. You might find it better to let go.
3. Don't stress yourself too much. When exhausted, find ways to rejuvenate, even during work and/or assignments. Those who stress you out too much because they depend on your behavior, should not be in your life if they are not necessary to be in it. If your finances allow it, find a job that is not too stressful for you. There is always a need for employees in stressful jobs such as customer service, but it does not mean that it would be healthy for you.
4. Living in singlehood would more likely bring you peace than in a romantic relationship, where the boundaries and personal freedoms are not always clear nor wide. But hey, it’s your decision in the end. As the philosopher Sartre has said: "hell is other people", and while I don't agree with him entirely, I can understand, based on the fictional and non-fictional media I have consumed, that romance is not always the suitable answer for everyone. Romance often causes tension (AKA relationship anxiety), and there is always the uncertainty of being dumped. Even if a lonely/empty one, singlehood has its own, calming virtues.
5. Find ways to increase your independence from others. That way you are less likely to be disappointed. Even if you have great dependence on others that is necessary, having the capability to act on your own can give you a sense of potency that can increase your self-confidence.
6. Learn to express your energies in healthy ways, so they won’t tempt you to express them aggressively. I personally used to go to the gym, and doing so relaxed me. Find any kind of hobby of which you'll be able to express yourself, and you'll be less tensed. It's not just for the expression; it's for the ability to rejuvenate after a hard day's work, and/or avoid the consequences of repression.
7. Drink a few cups of tea a day. They will calm your nerves significantly if you will stick to it regularly. Any other kind of relaxing refreshment should be considered as long as it won't make you addicted or ill.
8. Focus more on the things you possess and have done rather on the things you haven’t. If you believe you haven’t done much to be satisfied, prove yourself wrong by trying to achieve them. It is a common problem in financial materialism -- always looking forward, with little consideration of what you already have, the goals you have reached. It's what makes us be in the loop of consumption. For the sake of Philosocom, I choose otherwise.
9. Know and recognize your individual limitations. Everyone has a “breaking point” of their own. Be conscious of it and try to stay away from it as far as possible. If you have a certain weakness that could lead you to a potential meltdown or panic attack, make sure you won't reach it, and explain to other people your problem so they would understand and stop nagging you.
10. Be aware that conflict is not always avoidable, and the attempt to avoid it at all costs may not always be successful. Embrace the possibility of conflict and learn to live in peace with it. The attempt to run away from it completely may be counterproductive to your daily functioning. Once you are not afraid of the inevitable possibility of conflict, you will not necessarily treat it that badly, should it actually occur.
11. When talking, it is important not only what you are trying to convey, but how you are communicating it as well. Being polite and kind can help you to significantly avoid avoidable conflicts with others. I myself am autistic, so I don't really know how to further explain it, other than making sure you will not offend someone and make them be triggered and lead you to an unnecessary incident.
Thank you very much for reading this article and I hope it contributed to at least some of the readers. If you liked it, please consider sharing it, so it could help to more people as well.
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