What is inner peace?

Inner peace is a process, not a result. Inner peace is something that is worked towards, something that is consciously chosen. Your first question should be, "Do I want to experience inner peace?", and perhaps your next should be "What is it like to experience inner peace?" Depending on who you are, the order of those questions might be reversed.

What is it like to experience inner peace? - Inner peace is powerful, it is calming, it is tranquil. It is a place where you can go at any time, and connect with what has been referred to as "the silence". In the silence, there is a knowing that occurs. A knowing that you are WHO YOU ARE. And Who you are is much more than who you appear to be. The peace that is found in this inner space, is a place of unlimited potential. Free of Ego attachments, free of emotional attachments, free of physical attachments to any outcomes that might occur in ANY situation. What does this really mean though? This means that you are no longer a leaf in the wind, responding or reacting to situations as they occur, and allowing those situations to determine how you feel. For example, a close friend or family member dies. What are the immediate emotions one would associate with that type of experience.

1) Loss
2) Pain
3) Anger

And eventually you'd learn to accept "what is" and move on. Sometimes a process that can take years for some, or minutes for others. I prefer efficiency as opposed to allowing emotions to drag on for extended periods of time, thus impacting many other facets of my life. This works for me, it may not work for you - but it can if you decide it will.

Going into an inner space allows you to do something, it allows you to connect with a "Beingness", a simple and functional human being... existing as they are, with no need for change. What do I mean by that? Well how often have you thought to yourself, I wish I was that guy, or I wish I was rich, or I want that new Porsche, or I need/want to be different somehow? Think about this... Does a flower contemplate itself in relation to others? Does it say why am I not as tall as the other flowers? Does it ask why am I not a tree? It simply is what it is... a rose. Is that rose any less beautiful because it is one inch shorter than another flower? In my opinion... no. It is beautiful regardless, because that is it's true nature.

What is your true nature? You are human, with all of your brilliance, all of your faults, all of your quirks, and all of your experience. Simply be who you are, and trust that who you are is exactly who you're supposed to be. Just as the rose is exactly what it is supposed to be. This sense of knowing that you are exactly what you are supposed to be, right here and now... is very powerful. This understanding is HOW to be in a state of peace. Knowing intrinsically that nothing needs to change, and you are exactly as you should be in this moment of NOW. However that doesn't mean that you don't change in every moment of now... we are always changing, quite literally evolving even at a microscopic level.

But now the question is what is your motivation? Is it to acquire more wealth, or to have a more abundant experience? Is it a wanting for something more, or a desire for a new experience? The change in perspective is key... Because a studious desire for new experience is mind expanding... a wanting for something specific, especially materialism is myopic, and closed minded. You will have infinitely more success with an open mind, ear, and heart, than if they're closed.

When do you know if you've achieved inner peace? - You'll know. When nothing from this material world, be it a death, a birth, an argument, a joke... nothing from the wide range of human experience can move you from your place of peace. Can move you from your place of serenity, or your position of power. What does this position of power do for you? It allows you to CHOOSE exactly when and how you will experience ANY situation... exactly what type of emotions you'll engage, how much, and how often. Do you like joy / love / laughter? Then choose them! All the time. Don't let life decide for you... they are happening simply to allow you to first know what it's like, then to decide which ones you want to experience! Instead of being the leaf in the wind, at the mercy of fate... be the wind itself and decide where you want to go.

Do I want to experience inner peace? - This question pertains to the humans ability to delve back into old behavioural patterns, which is why inner peace is a process, not a destination. We've all experienced inner peace, but how long have we stayed there? How often have we been moved away from this experience by some event that happened in our lives? Someone cries, we go to console them, someone's angry with us, so we move into a defensive mode... all of these actions literally give away your personal power of choice. Which is why it's time for us to decide which behavioural patterns work best for us, repeat them frequently, and live them. If it works for you, then fantastic... if it doesn't... Then that's fantastic too. Just realize, and never forget that there are other options for you. Peace / Joy / Love is only a small (but frequent) decision away.