Dixya Poudel

There comes a time in a person's life when inner peace becomes more valuable than material success, possessions and achievements. In the end, what matters is our peace of mind in all aspects of life.
According to Buddhism, there are sufferings in life but there are also ways to eliminate sufferings. While it may not be possible for all of us to reach nirvana, peace and happiness are still attainable. Today, stress, anxiety, depression and a plethora of mental ailments are common. People complain of stress and anxiety more than ever.
Especially, it is the youth who are vulnerable to struggles with psychological health. And currently, the world seems to be at a critical point which is why teachings of Lord Buddha are particularly applicable today. Lord Buddha was born into a royal family in Nepal in 623 B.C. and was destined to be a king someday. However, he abandoned all luxuries and privileges of a regal life in search of truth and peace. After being enlightened, he spread messages of inner harmony.
While it isn’t viable to forgo everything in the contemporary world for inner peace, one can still grasp at the concept of peace and harmony through Buddhist teachings. As Lord Buddha said, "Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." We thus need to take time to understand our inner self. What brings happiness in our lives? What are we passionate about? And what grants us safe and sacred space in our hearts? When we eventually become true to our inner nature, peace becomes our second nature.
As adults, people often realise that their spirit is lacking in purpose. In a 9 am to 5 pm routine and a constant struggle to fulfil material ambitions, they sacrifice inner peace for few fleeting moments of success. It is important to gain material success. But in doing so, there is often a price to pay in form of degrading health. Currently stress is the primary source of unhappiness and agony that further results in insomnia, anxiety and depression.
Approximately one third of people throughout the world complain of some form of stress. When stress is unaddressed and unchecked, it can lead to further complications in physical and mental health. Psychologists today warn of increasing stress and burnouts in personal and professional lives.
Technically, stress isn’t a disease into itself. Instead it is a response of the body against the external stressors. Stress manifests in our lives during critical moments. May be you have had drastic changes in your life or that you are undergoing strenuous situations. Human body reacts physically, emotionally and psychologically in response to factors causing stress. The body further responds to external stressors through "fight or flight" response.
When we are stressed, the steroid hormone cortisol is released. It is equivalent to the body's inner alarm system that controls the motivation, fear and mood in an individual. The adrenal glands located on the top of kidneys regulate cortisol. Chronic release of this hormone can lead to major health problems which is why it is important to contain it before it leads to undue effects. Meditation and mindfulness are aspects of Buddhism that are beneficial for psychological health and overall wellbeing. Ultimately, our mind must be our greatest ally for inner peace in a largely chaotic world.