How to Find Inner Peace – A Mindset That Helps You Stay Calm in Everyday Life

How do you find inner peace – truly and sustainably?

In previous articles, we explored how meditation and relaxation techniques can help you experience more calm. But while these practices are helpful, they often aren’t enough on their own. Lasting inner peace goes deeper. It requires a shift in your mindset — a new way of thinking that helps you respond to life’s challenges with clarity and calm.

Because no matter how well we plan, life will always surprise us. Things don’t always go the way we expect. And when that happens, it’s not always easy to stay centered. But how you respond to the unexpected is exactly where true inner peace begins.

Let me share an old Chinese story that illustrates this perfectly. As the writer Jorge Bucay once said:

“We tell stories to children so they fall asleep. We tell stories to adults so they wake up.”

The Farmer’s Story – Learning to Stay Calm

A farmer and his son owned a beloved horse that helped them make a living. One day, the horse ran away.

Their neighbors said: “What a terrible misfortune!”

The farmer replied: “Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see.”

A few days later, the horse returned – bringing several wild horses with it.

The neighbors exclaimed: “What great luck!”

The farmer simply said: “Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see.”

Later that week, the son tried to ride one of the wild horses, but he fell and broke his leg.

The neighbors cried: “How awful! Such bad luck!”

Again, the farmer said: “Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see.”

A few weeks later, the army came to recruit young men from the village. Because the son had a broken leg, he wasn’t taken.

The neighbors said: “Your son was spared! What good fortune!”

The farmer replied: “Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see.”

The Psychology Behind the Parable

The message of this story is clear: We rarely know whether an event is truly good or bad in the moment. Time reveals the bigger picture.

This way of thinking reflects a psychological skill called cognitive reframing – the ability to view a situation from a different, often more helpful perspective. It’s not about denying your feelings or pretending everything is okay. It’s about choosing not to react automatically with judgment.

Instead of saying “This is terrible” or “This is great,” what if you simply said: “Let’s see what comes of this.”

This mindset shift is at the heart of emotional resilience and mental clarity. It helps you pause, gain perspective, and reduce reactivity – all key components of lasting inner peace.

Let Go of Control and Let Life Unfold

Finding inner peace doesn’t mean ignoring pain or pretending not to care. It means being fully present, without clinging to fixed outcomes. It means embracing the flow of life without constantly judging each event.

And that starts with small changes in how you think.

So the next time life surprises you — positively or negatively — take a breath.

Remind yourself:

“Maybe yes. Maybe no. Let’s see.”

Final Thoughts: Inner Peace Is a Practice

Relaxation exercises and meditation are valuable tools. But they are most effective when paired with a mindset that supports calm.

The more you practice non-judgmental awareness — even in small, daily moments — the more resilient and peaceful you’ll feel.

Inner peace isn’t about having a perfect life. It's about trusting that you can handle whatever comes next.

If you would like to deepen your mindfulness through courses or consultations, please contact me.