#purpose

"What you practice grows stronger - and we are practicing all of the time." --Dr. Shauna Shapiro

What you practice grows stronger – we know this now with neuroplasticity. Our repeated experiences shape our brain. We can actually sculpt and strengthen our synaptic connections based on repeated practice.

--Dr. Shauna Shapiro

We have spent a lot of our lives sometimes 'practicing' things that are wasteful or even harmful, and by continual practice they have become stronger and stronger over time.

The good news is - no, the GREAT news is that we can deliberately CHOOSE what we want to grow stronger, and then set about deliberately and diligently practicing those things!

One thing that caught my attention in Numbers 10 is how organised everything was.God wasn’t just taking the Israelites from one place to another. He had a plan for the journey. Every tribe had a position. Every clan had an assignment. Everyone knew where they belonged and what they were responsible for. Everything was thought through and nothing was random.As I read the chapter, I couldn’t help…

When was the last time you sat down to read something? Was it before or after you saw red? Are you ready to take a green path after you reflect? https://youtu.be/Lfx-g-J-gaQ* a library offers time, space, and opportunity — dhali old guy #stop #sustenance #textiles #occupations #purpose

https://manalhaddad.com/ebook/

Volume One: Inner Calm

Resolved: Peace is possible even amid suffering and hardship.

Peace is possible despite suffering because:

Inner peace comes from acceptance, resilience, and perspective.

Many people find peace through faith, purpose, or personal growth during difficult times.

Suffering can deepen wisdom, compassion, and understanding.

Personal peace is achieved through the following:

Inner Calm — Volume One

Emotional Stability — Volume Two

Self-Acceptance — Volume Three

Mental Tranquility — Volume Four

Freedom from Anxiety — Volume Five

Freedom from Fear — Volume Six

Contentment — Volume Seven

Acceptance — Volume Eight

Self-Harmony — Volume Nine

Psychological Balance — Volume Ten

Spiritual Stillness — Volume Eleven

Inner Calm

Inner calm refers to a steady, peaceful state of mind that allows a person to remain composed, thoughtful, and centered even in the face of stress, chaos, or change.

I see examples of this often because I work at a day center that serves homeless and mentally ill adults. In my role, I have observed people who have been degraded, swindled, and given false hope repeatedly. Others have endured horrific experiences such as rape, assault, and situations where basic services were offered only in exchange for sexual favors.

I have witnessed much because I have traveled both sides of the tracks. Some people simply cannot endure that lifestyle and eventually become institutionalized in an effort to preserve their mental health. Others choose to self-medicate. Yet many learn how to establish inner calm—a persistent state of mental rest that eventually influences their physical well-being as well.

I have found that the more you draw from your inner calm, the stronger it becomes. Eventually, situations that once seemed devastating begin to feel less overwhelming. This does not mean that problems disappear or that they do not require attention. Rather, it means that before, during, and after addressing them, you are operating from a place of personal peace.

During difficult periods in my own life, I learned to develop inner calm through the following practices:

1. Acceptance

Many times, accepting a situation for what it is can relieve tremendous stress.

For example, imagine your eighteen-year-old daughter announces that she is pregnant and intends to carry the pregnancy to term. Accepting her decision may help keep your blood pressure within a healthy range. As you begin to think about the child to come, you may even find joy in the prospect of becoming a grandparent.

2. Faith

Faith is the belief that difficult seasons do not last forever.

Sometimes the simple reminder that “this too shall pass” is enough to steady the mind and quiet the heart.

3. Resilience

Resilience is entering a difficult situation knowing that you will regain the ground that has been lost.

You have overcome challenges before. There is every reason to believe that you can do so again. This confidence reduces worry because your focus shifts from fear to action.

4. Perspective

Sometimes all that is needed is a different perspective.

A trusted friend, mentor, or confidant may see something that you cannot. Their insight can provide clarity and restore a sense of calm when emotions threaten to take control.

5. Purpose

Knowing your purpose helps you remain focused.

When you are committed to a larger mission, smaller problems often lose their power to distract or discourage you. Purpose creates direction, and direction fosters peace.

I am certain there are many other ways to achieve inner calm. These are simply the methods that have worked for me. Through acceptance, faith, resilience, perspective, and purpose, I have discovered that peace is not the absence of hardship. Rather, it is the ability to remain steady while moving through it.