Are you looking to have more peace- both inner peace and in your relationships?
September 21, 2019 marks International Day of Peace, which promotes a day of seeking peace among nations as well as people. This holiday was established in 1981 by the United Nations and was declared a permanent holiday in 2002. Coincidentally, Selichot, which is Hebrew for “sorry and forgiveness prayers” begins on this same day in preparation for the Jewish High Holiday, Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement. This is a time of reflecting on one’s actions during the past year, asking for forgiveness for one’s sins, and avoiding committing the same sins in the Jewish New Year, which begins September 28th this year.
Regardless of your religious affiliation, September often marks a new start for us with summer ending, school starting, and autumn beginning. It is a perfect time for us to reflect on the past year, including our accomplishments, challenges, and difficulties. We can reflect on how we feel about ourselves as well as our relationships with others. More importantly, we can examine our needs, desires, and goals for the future year. It is a time to reflect on what we really want to get out of our life and our relationships and create a plan of how to accomplish what we want.
For some, these tasks may not be so easy. It may include admitting our faults, our challenges, and mistakes we have made. Even more challenging, it includes asking for forgiveness from both ourselves as well as others. Creating goals and action plans to accomplish these goals may also be an overwhelming and daunting task.
Below are 10 tips to help you get started to have a year of peace (both inner peace and in your relationships):
Know and accept yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses.
Don’t be too hard on yourself or others.
Ask yourself for forgiveness when needed.
Apologize and ask others for forgiveness when needed.
Practice open, honest, and clear communication with others to prevent arguments and misunderstandings.
Avoid letting yourself get hung up on petty matters.
Think positive thoughts and find the positive in yourself and others.
Seek relationships where you can be genuine and make you feel positive about yourself.
Create good work-life balance and don’t overcommit yourself.
Make time for yourself to relax and be in the moment.
If you are still struggling with finding inner peace or peace in your relationships, it may be helpful to speak with a professional who can help you. Call us at David A. Nover, M.D., P.C. at (215) 491-7570 to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians.