All Blog Postings by Mary
7 Steps To Inner Peace by Joyce Sheldon
Archive notice: This is a historical post from Mary’s years of blogging. Some older posts may mention products, courses or shop items that are no longer available, as Mary now focuses her time and energy on supporting widows inside her private Facebook community. The guidance and stories remain here as a free resource for widows.
For current ways to connect with Mary’s work, you can:
- Read her book on Amazon .
- Request to join her private Facebook group for widows .
It was my husband’s dream to retire to Florida, live on the water and have a boat. After raising seven children (3 of mine, 4 of his), this was a dream worth following. Two months after our move, he was in the hospital with what we assumed was a heart attack, but when the doctor entered the room, I knew it was more than that. We were blessed that my husband lived for two years – two years that “burned me at the fire,” so to speak, and caused me to embrace the role of devoted caregiver advocate.
During that long and trying journey, I developed the 7 Steps to Inner Peace which kept me centered on the mission at hand, even if it was minute by minute. They helped me to look inside myself and discover the messages that were hidden behind tragedy, fear and anxiety. These 7 Steps to Inner Peace still serve me well today, 10 years after my husband’s death.
STEP ONE: LOOK WITHIN
Decide not to lend your energy to troubled thoughts and emotions. Let them rise and fall as the waves of the ocean without disturbing the deeper waters of peacefulness within. This is the one and only moment that exists right now. Breathe with it. Dance with it. Wrap your arms around it.
Exercise – Breathe out that which you decide to release (fear, anxiety, doubtfulness)
Breathe in that which you decide to attract (courage, faith, peace)
STEP TWO: DESIRE
State your desire to achieve a peaceful heart. Concentrate on only what is good in each situation, releasing the negative and giving it no place in your heart.
Exercise - Surround yourself with positive and inspiring people
Feed your spirit with inspiring music, movies, books
STEP THREE: SPEND A DAY IN QUIETNESS
Can you find a day to eliminate the TV, cell phone, cds, no driving, no shopping? What would you do with your time? Eliminate distractions and go inwards to your soul. Begin with just one hour a day and you will notice the difference.
Exercise - Find that which brings you peace and embrace it
Learn to sit quietly in the silence and breathe in the stillness
STEP FOUR: CREATE AN ALTAR OF PEACE
Place your treasured objects and symbols in a special place – a corner table of your bedroom, even in the kitchen, so that you will see them often and be blessed by the very essence of the photos, candles, books, paintings.
Exercise - Identify your treasured objects and gather them together
Add fresh flowers, seasonal decorations, greeting cards received
STEP FIVE: CREATE A ROUTINE
Take 5 minutes to stretch in the morning; give thanks for the day ahead; concentrate on attracting the attitude of peace you desire.
Exercise - Move your body, arms and hands in a gentle flow. Stretch.
STEP SIX: AFFIRMATIONS
Start the day by saying out loud: “I will be peaceful today,” instead of “Oh; this is not going to be a good day!” What you speak is what you get.
Exercise - Be aware of your thoughts and words - practice changing them to the positive
STEP SEVEN: JOURNAL
Create a gratitude journal. Write down the blessings you received. Concentrate on the blessings and not the trials. (Create the routine of giving up the hurts and disappointments lest they linger in your heart waiting to create illness and fatigue.)
Exercise - Read over the previous day’s entries - be grateful and expect more good.