I’ve been captivated by the concept of peace lately. I keep trying to make all these big changes in my life, but I’m coming to realize that small adjustments that take minimal effort are more important than anything. So today, I’m sharing a few super simple things I’ve been doing lately to help me live with a little more peace every day.
Now, my goal for The Gem is not just to have a space where I can share what helps me, but also a place for you to share your insight, too! So, be sure to leave a comment below and give us one way you bring a bit more everyday peace to your life. How cool would it be if we could fill the comments section up with tips and tricks as a resource to scroll through for anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed and uneasy? Let’s make it happen!
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[1) Wear something that reminds you of peace
When I was on vacation with my family this summer, I partnered with Kutula Kiss (you will adore the story and process behind how their pieces are made) to show off their new Desert Rose collection. I wore one of their bracelets every day – they were too pretty not to! – and the strangest thing happened: they anchored me to keeping my composure. “Kutula” means peace, which I knew, but every time I looked down and caught a glimpse of my bracelets, there was this little whisper in my head that said, “maintain your peace, Allyn.” Being on vacation with 2 teenagers and 5 women total, that hint was necessary. It was also a reminder that when we take the time to understand the story behind the things we’re wearing, that can have a positive reminder on our lives beyond just looking good.
Picked throughout this post are the following bracelets: [1] Optic Rainbow – Medium ($45), [2] Peace by Peace – Medium ($45), [3] Screaming Tuesday ($45), [4] Spring-a-Ling Bracelet – Rose ($28), [5] Wing Ding Cuff Bracelet ($85)
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[2) Give into your cravings
As I’ve been taking some more time to observe my thoughts lately, I’m realizing how many things I deny myself throughout the day. I’m talking cravings of all kinds, whether it’s a nap, bowl of ice cream, or checking my Instagram notifications. Sometimes I even deny myself of whatever I really want to be working on just to catch up on other things. Now, call me crazy, and I have no evidence to back this up, but do you think maybe constantly denying our small desires could be related to why we so often feel our larger desires aren’t valid or plausible? Just some food for thought.
Put your energy into building your self control, like napping for 20 minutes instead of 3 hours, having a little mug full of ice cream instead of a massive bowl, or telling yourself you get to do the thing you really want to do for 30 minutes and then you’ll get back to the other stuff. Then practice sticking to the conditions your set for yourself. Self-control seems like a skill that can definitely come in handy in other areas of life, while the ability to constantly neglect our wants and needs does not.
Note, this only applies to things that have the potential to have a positive effect on you. For example, you may feel rejuvenated after a 20 minute nap, but if you have the urge to stalk your ex on Facebook, nothing good is going to come from doing that for 20 minutes.
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3.) Organize something
There’s no doubt that overwhelm in a killer of peace. When you have a million things swirling around your brain, peace is on the other side of the storm that seems like it’ll never break. To get out of the bad weather, I find it extremely helpful to physically organize something.
Your closet, your garage, your jewelry box, your emails; it doesn’t matter what it is. The act of organization helps trigger the areas of your brain responsible for compartmentalizing. That way, when you get back to your work and to-do list, you’ve primed your brain to help organize your thoughts.
Do you have any little tricks you use to find more peace in your daily life? I’d love to hear them below!
