How to Find Peace Again in the Midst of a Chaotic Life

Do you ever feel like you’re caught up in some kind of cosmic battle?  I mean, we’re all bombarded every day with the negative aren’t we?

The news media breathlessly reports 24 hours a day on the latest crisis that could end the world.

The stock market tanks because of some economic report out of China.  The federal government spins out of control with the antics of politicians.  The World Health Organization identifies the next pandemic illness that will sweep the planet.

Add on top of that the real challenges we all face in everyday life and we can feel overwhelmed.

Yet, we need to stay engaged don’t we.  I mean, we need to be up on the latest news so we can prepare.  We need to marshal our forces, plan for the worst, be ready for the coming onslaught.

Yet, it all can leave us feeling exhausted, agitated and yes, sometimes just a wee bit cranky.

What happened to relaxing?  Where did the peace go?  How can I just turn off the noise?

Well, I experienced one of those times when I got to turn it off and I’m determined to bring that peace back into my everyday life once again.

We just returned home from a trip to Austria and Germany. 

Two weeks of driving through the Alps, staying in 400 year old hotels, walking through quaint villages, hiking around high mountain lakes and drinking just a smidgen too much beer.  Well actually, I drank just a smidgen too much beer.

When we got home I thought about how much better I felt even with the jet lag.

I felt relaxed.  My wife and I had a great time just talking and laughing again.  My mind was a bit groggy but in a way so much clearer.

On Monday I returned to my office, turned on the computer, read the news and discovered the stock market had gone through its normal gyrations then ended approximately where it was when I left.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are still competing with each other to say and do the most outrageous things.

No pandemic swept the world.

And within about two hours I deleted two weeks of emails I didn’t really need to read.

So I decided, once again, to make some changes.  I want to live in the peace I rediscovered.

A favorite scripture verse says, “Think about those things that are positive, pure, lovely and uplifting.  Also the positive promises from God.  And when you do this you’ll find peace again.”

I thought, “That’s it.  That’s what I’ve drifted away from.”

So I’m determined to do better at screening out the negative and instead focus on the positive.

Sure stay informed but step out of the daily fray.

I plan to take more vacations from the chaos. 

Sure I’d like to travel more but I can take vacations where I live.  Weekends are news free from now on.

Even during the week just skim the headlines.  They all recycle anyway.

And I’m done with the political rants on Facebook and emails.  I’m spending more time reading about friend’s vacations, puppies, kids and laughing at their jokes.

Second, I’m going to use that extra time to do positive things.

Read my Bible a bit more and a few good books.

Spend time with those I love doing the things I love.

Finally, I’m trusting God to take care of the details. 

I can’t change the world anyway.  But you know?  He can.  So I’m turning it all back over to him.

Whew, I feel better already.  Well, except for the jet lag.

Philippians 4: 8-9

Photo Credit: Louis Vest; Creative Commons