I don’t think I’ve ever resonated with a blog post so much.

As I write this (from a beautiful villa in Bali) I’m reminded of all the sacrifices I made and the actions I took to create my dream life.

Having spent the majority of my twenties in a constant battle with myself, I’m finally in a place where I feel completely and utterly at peace with who I am and what stage I’m in. (A 34-year-old backpacking digital nomad who splits her time between Thailand, Vietnam, Bali and Greece to be exact.)

And this all came down to going after what I truly wanted in life, not following societal expectations.

So trust me on this — you’ll never find inner peace if you’re constantly chasing someone else’s dreams.

You need to follow your own heart.

What it means to find inner peace

Finding inner peace means being completely and utterly happy within yourself no matter what is happening around you.

It means loving and accepting yourself just as you are, despite any flaws or imperfections. It’s knowing you’re worthy and deserving of everything that you desire.

It’s hard to pinpoint what it’s exactly like to find inner peace.

Because it’s more of a state than a feeling. But when it’s there, you’ll know.

When I’m at peace, I feel grounded and completely at ease. There’s no self-sabotage or overwhelm, stress or anxiety, and I know nothing can come between me and my happiness.

I’m able to let go of any worries about the past and future and fully embrace the present moment.

Many people relate inner peace and happiness as something we find.

But what if peace isn’t something you find? What if it’s something you create?

Here are the exact 5 steps I took to find my own inner peace and happiness.

“Finding inner peace isn’t always so much about just sitting in the lotus position until wisdom becomes you; it’s about making the uncomfortable decision to stay with your discomfort and to choose differently.”

Brianna Wiest
5 powerful ways to create inner peace

Disclaimer: Finding inner peace does not happen overnight.

It’s part of a bigger process that involves prioritising self-love, doing the inner work and knowing wholeheartedly that you’re on the right path. Yup, I said it — finding inner peace is not as simple as reading a self-help book in one sitting.

It will take time, work and patience. So don’t rush the journey.

Here are 5 ways to create peace and happiness within yourself. I encourage you to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.

1 | Prioritise self-love and acceptance

Out of all the steps I took to change my life, learning to love myself was my greatest achievement.

It was the key to breaking away from the mould, following my own path and finding inner peace in the process.

Self-love is the foundation of everything. Without it, nothing else makes sense.

Going after your dreams and finding inner peace becomes so much easier when you wholeheartedly accept who you are and love yourself despite your imperfections.

Prioritising self-love and inner acceptance involves peeling back the layers of external expectations and getting to know your authentic self. It’s about knowing your true worth so you no longer need to look to others for validation.

So, whatever you do from this moment forward, do not skip this step.

Learn to love yourself, and the rest will come.

Action steps: Journal to find out who you truly are with these self-discovery prompts
Spend time by yourself with zero distractions — embrace the discomfort
Lean into what you already have (aka your strengths, skills and unique qualities)
Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations
Get comfortable with being naked and checking yourself out in the mirror 1b | Adopt healthy habits

Yes, inner peace IS internal and finding it requires a lot of internal work.

All of this starts with prioritising self-love.

But what I know to be true is that I’m a lot happier when I’m also physically at my healthiest — not self-sabotaging by drinking alcohol and eating unhealthy foods.

So do not underestimate the power of healthy habits, exercise and a good diet.

Action steps: Prioritise 7-9 hours of good quality sleep a night
Focus on eating a well-balanced diet and avoid ultra-processed foods
Stop heavy or binge-drinking
Move your body for at least 30 minutes a day
Limit doom-scrolling 2 | Do the inner mindset work

Finding inner peace was not some manifestation fairytale.

And it certainly didn’t happen overnight.

I got out of a toxic situation six years ago and have invested A LOT of time, energy and money to get to where I am now.

It hasn’t been all sunshine and coconuts.

There have been plenty of deep work and mindset shifts. And this all starts with challenging the thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back.

For example, my go-to is changing “I can’t do this” to “I am capable of overcoming any challenge that comes my way.”

To create inner peace, you must acknowledge and reframe any limiting beliefs that stand in your way. By changing your mindset and embracing positivity, you create a strong foundation for overcoming obstacles with grace and resilience.

Action steps: Challenge negative thoughts and beliefs
Dedicate time to self-care daily even if it’s for just 10 minutes
Surround yourself with positive influences and like-minded people
Read books or listen to podcasts that promote a positive mindset
Celebrate your wins, no matter how small 3 | Get clear on your core values

The main reason why many of us feel lost is because we’re unclear about what we truly value in life.

Look at it this way — You’ve followed a path that is expected of you, and you’re now beginning to realise that it’s not what you actually want.

You’ve got your degree, a well-paying job and are saving for a mortgage while climbing the corporate ladder. You go out every weekend to let your hair down and catch up with your girlfriends at Sunday brunch.

But yet, you still feel empty inside.

You can’t help but think, “There must be more to life than this.”

And you’re right — there is.

The truth is, life isn’t about living “the same year 75 times.” (Robin Sharma) It’s about self-discovery and prioritising your dream life over what is expected of you.

So don’t just settle for one career, one house, one location or one way of living.

Embrace the endless possibilities and give yourself permission to explore all that life has to offer.

To find the right path that aligns with you, start by mapping out your core values. When you know what you truly value, you can give more meaning to your life and create that inner peace.

Action steps: Reflect on your most rewarding, satisfying and fulfilling moments
Identify the values that were present within these moments and write them down
Continue to add to your list until you have 10-15 values that all resonate with you
Narrow down your master list to just 5 core values
Compare these values to your current life—how can you bridge the gap? 4 | Find your Ikigai (aka your life’s purpose)

Ikigai, meaning ‘reason for being’ is an ancient Japanese philosophy that helps you discover your life’s purpose.

It involves identifying the intersection between four parts:

What you love — your passion and mission
What you’re good at — your passion and profession
What the world needs — your mission and vocation
What you can be paid for — your profession and vocation

When you know your Ikigai, you can feel more at peace within yourself.

You get to wake up every single day and do what you love. You’re no longer trying to fill the emptiness inside your heart with pointless tasks and meaningless social events.

You are taking intentional action towards creating a life that aligns with you and your values.

Action steps: Brainstorm the things you love and what brings you joy
Identify your natural strengths, skills and talents
Explore how your skills can meet the needs of the world
Look into job or work opportunities that align with your passions and skills
Find the sweet spot (Ikigai) between your passion, profession, mission and vocation 5 | Practice gratitude every single day

Practising gratitude has become an essential part of my well-being journey.

Whenever I feel slightly lost or behind in life, it’s so important for me to remind myself of all the good things happening and what I’ve created in my life so far.

No matter how tedious that thing might be — like being grateful for a warm bed, being healthy or having access to clean water.

It’s essential that I don’t take these things for granted and, instead, learn to appreciate the simple joys of life.

This, in turn, has allowed me to feel even more at peace within myself.

When you practice gratitude, you invite more happiness into your daily life. You are standing up and showing yourself that, despite life’s challenges and setbacks, you choose to feel good.

And that is the greatest act of self-love you can show yourself. (Eeek, full-circle moment!!!)

Action steps: Dedicate at least 5 minutes each day to your gratitude routine
Use The Five Minute Journal
Create a “joy jar” — write down a joyful moment from each day, fold it up and put it in a jar. At the end of the week, month or year, read through them
Say “I get to” instead of “I have to”
Experiment with guided journal prompts or gratitude lists Save this mini-guide on Pinterest
Dive deeper into creating inner peace with these journal prompts

You know I love a good journaling session!

It’s what I turn to the most whenever I need to ditch self-sabotage and gain clarity.

So if you want to dive a little deeper into the above steps, choose 2-3 of the below journal prompts and add them to your morning routine.

What does inner peace look like to you?
How would it feel for you to be completely and utterly at peace within yourself?
Write about a time when you felt truly at peace. What contributed to these feelings?
When do you feel at ease?
Where is your happy place? The place that makes you feel grounded and completely at ease.
What does a fulfilling life look like to you?
Reflect on your most satisfying and fulfilling moments. What were you doing?
When have you been at your happiest?
What are the 3 top things that bring you genuine happiness?
What are your top priorities in life right now, and why?
What are your core values, and how do they influence your daily decisions?
What values do you want to uphold in both your personal and working life?
What does your definition of success look like? When was the last time you felt this level of success?
Reflect on a moment when you felt truly connected to your purpose
What activities would you like to pursue if money wasn’t an object?
What are your strengths? List at least 8
Write about a time when you were most proud of yourself
What do you most like and admire about yourself? List at least 5 qualities
Write a love letter to your future self in the first person
How can you improve the way you feel about yourself?
Describe a moment when you felt truly authentic
What is one of the best bits about being you?
What 5 things are you most grateful for right now in this moment
Write about something that makes you look forward to waking up
What impact do you want to have on the world or the lives of others? Save these journal prompts on Pinterest
Final thoughts

With the right actions, you can be completely and utterly at peace within yourself.

The magic comes with the realisation that happiness is the path you want to take, not the one others carve out for you.

Remember, you are the creator of your own reality and, ultimately inner peace.

Don’t just let life happen to you.

Take control today and design a life that sets your soul on fire.

You’ve got this,

Thalia xx