How to Cultivate Peace in Chaos: Mindful Living in a Fast-Paced World

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling like everything is happening all at once… and it is! I mean, I’m sure we can agree there are a few (read: too many) not-so-light things going on in the collective right now. We are in the middle of a spiritual warfare outside, with a lot of us fighting our own internal battles. With all that is happening within and around us, it can leave feelings of stress, uncertainty, and fear. How do you find peace through it all? How do you decipher who and what to give your energy to?

Focusing on yourself first is almost always the answer.

Focusing on yourself first and foremost is almost always the answer. Not in a way that ignores the world, but in a way that allows you to navigate it with clarity and authenticity. When everything feels like it’s pulling you in different directions, the real work is turning inward—creating stillness within yourself, even when the outside world is anything but still.

Peace isn’t something we stumble upon; it’s something we practice consistently. It’s in the small choices we make daily—what we consume, who we engage with, how we protect our energy. But how do you actually do that? How do you create inner peace when the world feels like it's moving too fast?

Let’s talk about it.

1. Stop. Breathe.

The simplest yet most powerful tool at your disposal is your breath. Stop what you’re doing, bring your attention to your breathing, and take a few minutes to breathe deeply. Inhale deeply for a count of four, hold for a second, and exhale for a count of six. Repeat a few times.

Breathing deeply activates the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in calming the body’s stress response. Studies have shown that deep breathing can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering heart rate and reducing feelings of anxiety (source: The Journal of Clinical Psychology). This simple practice helps you regain control, shift from fight-flight-or-freeze mode, and create space for calm.

2. Awareness: Recognizing What’s Draining You

Before you can create peace, you need to identify what’s disturbing it. Is it unresolved emotions? Social media? Certain people in your life? Pay attention to what leaves you feeling anxious, frustrated, or depleted. Not everything deserves your energy.

Creating awareness isn’t about avoiding reality—it’s about being intentional with what you let in. Protecting your peace starts with recognizing what disrupts it.

• Take Action: Take inventory of your day. Write down 3 things that consistently leave you feeling drained. Then, ask yourself: Can I limit, remove, or shift my relationship with these things? Start making small adjustments to protect your peace.

3. Boundaries: Protecting Your Space & Energy

You don’t have to consume everything. You don’t have to engage in every conversation. You don’t have to say yes to every demand. Setting boundaries—mentally, physically, and emotionally—is an act of self-preservation, not selfishness.

If you struggle with boundary-setting, I highly recommend Nedra Glover Tawwab’s book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace—it’s a game-changer for learning how to say no with confidence and protect your energy without guilt. I mention this book in my blog post, Five Books Black Women Must Read on Their Spiritual Journey.

4. Stillness: Seeking Small Moments of Calm

While a silent retreat in the mountains will provide you access peace, there are also simple and easy practices like deep breaths between tasks, a mindful sip of tea, or five minutes of quiet before bed. The world may be moving fast, but you don’t have to move with it.

In fact, those small, intentional moments of stillness can help you reset and regain your focus. The key is consistency—even a few minutes here and there can accumulate to create a more grounded, peaceful state of mind. Start small and let it flow into other areas of your life, allowing you to stay present amidst the chaos.

• Take Action: Schedule 5-10 minutes of stillness into your day. This could be sipping your morning drink without distractions, taking a slow walk, or simply sitting in silence. The more you practice stillness, the easier it becomes.

5. Intention: Choosing Peace, Daily

Cultivating peace isn't a perfect journey—it’s about moving through it with intention. Some days will feel effortless, while others will challenge you to return to yourself over and over again. Give yourself grace in moments where you don't choose peace, and remember that every moment is an opportunity to begin again. True peace isn’t about avoiding chaos but learning how to remain centered within it. Decide what you will and won’t give your energy to. It’s choosing slowness over urgency, stillness over overstimulation, and presence over distraction. With time, these small choices add up, shaping a life that feels more aligned, more intentional, and truly your own.

• Take Action: Speak peace into existence—repeat an affirmation like “I choose peace over chaos” or “I release what I cannot control.” Words shape your reality.

Peace isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create, moment by moment, choice by choice. Some days, it will come naturally. Other days, you’ll have to remind yourself to return to it, again and again. And that’s okay. I created these downloadable affirmation cards to serve as a constant reminder. I like to set them as a screensaver.

The world will always be moving, shifting, and pulling in a million directions, but you don’t have to move with it. You have the power to slow down, to choose where your energy goes, and to create peace within—no matter what’s happening around you.

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How will you create peace today?

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