“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.” ~ Albert Einstein

~

When I think back to the times in my life when my days were most harmonious and free, they were those golden moments where time stood still—no picture reel spun quickly and no thoughts swooped in too prematurely.

Actions were not predetermined but carried out spontaneously.

I didn’t strive for perfection.

I wasn’t worried about what was lurking around the corner because I strongly sensed that everything would work itself out.

My heart and mind were completely open, with my body naturally following suit.

I can jump right back into those long, magical summer days of the 80s. My sister and I would wake early, throw on our bubble-gum-stained, striped pink and purple T-shirts, our acid-washed shorts, and bust out our front door with our peach high tops in hand.

We were the bold leaders of our tight-knit neighborhood crew.

We were curious and brave—figuring out everything as we explored it. Our days felt fresh with anticipation at every unknown twist and turn.

No one dared to ever mess with us.

We climbed the tallest trees and jumped the windiest creeks—always intuitively knowing how far we could go.

We marched to the beat of our own tune and created masterpieces out of thin air.

We stood tall—never questioning our ability to reach the light of any dark tunnels.

We were inspired constantly.

Life was not happening to us. Life merged within us. Our minds, bodies, and spirits were totally one.

Marcus Aurelius said, “He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.”

Internal harmony lies in understanding where we’ve been, where we are now, and letting the future happen. It’s living with a peace of mind derived from the acceptance of self and the people and circumstances around us. It is also the acceptance of our past.

It’s taking an honest look at ourselves and not jumping to what we “should be fixing,” but holding space to understand and move through it gracefully.

It’s courageously stepping out and showing the world who we are without the mask.

It’s removing what doesn’t fit to make space available for what does.

It’s selectively tuning in instead of tuning everything out.

It’s allowing time for simple pleasures like playing with our children, enjoying the sounds of laughter, and acting silly with friends.

It’s expressing love, kindness, and compassion for everyone.

It’s realizing our potential for growth during the stages of healing.

It’s discovering our magical, childlike essence again.

Internal harmony helps us better navigate life. It is the necessary ingredient for our progress, fulfilment, and survival.

Here are four simple ways that helped me have more internal harmony within my life.

1. Becoming aware of our reactions.

No matter how hard we work at improving our lives, we will experience the unpredictably of good and bad. There is nothing we can do to change this duality of reality. What we do have control over, however, is how we react to what presents itself in front of us.

Being aware of our reactions is the first step to understanding what lies at the root. We can ask ourselves, “Are the thoughts that we are aligning with enhancing us, or harming us?” “What egocentric ideas aren’t serving us anymore?” By simply looking, instead of jumping to conclusions, we can begin to acknowledge how we’ve been socially conditioned over time to respond in a certain way.

We can either choose to respond with fear, doubt, and insecurity, or we can move through life with courage and a knowingness that we have what it takes to weather any storms.

2. Listening to our guts. Intuition is not something that resides in our minds—but lives in our hearts. It is not something we can search for, but more so, a power that we can access to improve emotional peace and harmony within.

When we start listening to what our sixth sense is telling us, we enter energetic fields that align with our higher selves. When we tune in, we naturally create space for what is authentically right for us. We begin to vibrate at a higher frequency. We start making the proper life adjustments so that we can clear the path forward toward our unique life’s purpose.

3. Carrying zero expectations. How many times a day do you reference yourself or someone who didn’t meet your expectations? How many times do you beat yourself up for not figuring it all out yet?

“When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things the way they are instead of what you think they should be.” ~ Mandy Hale

All suffering starts with our expectations—of ourselves and others. How the mind responds to the expectations we set lays the groundwork for our joy or misery. If we hope for the best and realize that the universe is working in our favor, we will experience life as it comes and react accordingly. We will be more present. We will act more spontaneously to what is needed in the moment.

4. Optimism. Having a healthy outlook is sometimes all that’s needed when fear is in front of us. We are sometimes quick to take the negative route, but we must remember that our thoughts create our reality.

To conquer something, the first step is to simply believe there will be a successful outcome. If we have the confidence that we can overcome any obstacle in life, then that’s exactly what will happen.

Do you have any practices that have brought you a sense of internal harmony? I would love for you to share your thoughts.

~