The Journey Within: Cultivating Inner Peace for Lasting Success

Most of us measure success in terms of personal achievements—the greater our accomplishments, the more we feel we have succeeded and the happier we are. Success can bring us a deep sense of satisfaction and the feeling that all is right with the world. On the other hand, failure can leave us feeling dissatisfied, angry, or empty at our core.

The elated feeling we get when we are successful and the dejection we feel when we fail at something can lead us to believe that our inner happiness is dependent upon our achievements–that once we have, for instance, bought our dream home, landed the perfect job, started a successful business, or found our ideal partner, we will be at ease with ourselves. But any of endeavour can create multiple problems that delay success and, consequently, our feeling of inner happiness. And even if we do get the success we want, it may not last long or bring the inner joy we had hoped for.

The truth is that feeling on-going happiness and inner peace should be the starting point for all our undertakings.

We have all experienced that sometimes even success in our outer endeavours does not bring inner happiness and contentment. From this, we can conclude that the experience of satisfaction with one’s self may not depend upon success in the outer world, but rather upon a pre-existing feeling of inner peace.

Transcendental Meditation: A Tool for Inner Peace and Success

Twice-daily TM allows us to dive deep within ourselves to access our inner peace. During TM, we experience a profound state of rest, where the mind, emotions, and body are deeply relaxed and calm. This repeated experience of inner peace grows and deepens with each meditation. Eventually, the inner silence of meditation becomes a 24-hour-a-day reality, no matter how busy our lives become. One can say one has achieved a consistent, lasting state of inner peace, which fuels our achievement on all levels of life. Only when peace is consistently experienced deep within us can we find on-going happiness and satisfaction in our daily lives, regardless of what life brings us.

Several studies on TM indicate that this is the case.

A study done on students in 2006 showed that while the regular practice of TM brought about an inner state of restful alertness (inner silence), at the same time, the students showed an increase in emotional intelligence, greater flexibility of emotional response – leading to a better ability to adapt to changing situations – and greater success in academic outcomes.[i]

A study done in Sweden in 1996 showed that when TM was introduced into the workplace, there were improvements in employee health, job satisfaction, job performance and productivity, and organizational performance and climate. In short, the TM technique, which brings about a deep state of inner peace during the practice, results in better performance outcomes, both for the individuals and the company.[ii]

[i] Rosaen C, Benn R. The experience of Transcendental Meditation in middle school students: a qualitative report. Explore 2006 2:422-425

[ii] Schmidt-Wilk J, Alexander CN, Swanson GC. Developing consciousness in organizations: The Transcendental Meditation program in business. Journal of Business and Psychology 1996 10(4):429-444

Regular practitioners of TM report a variety of way in which the inner peace they feel in their lives puts them on a course for success. Here are some of those ways

Greater Focus

Inner peace allows us to have a clear and focused mind. When we are at peace with ourselves and our surroundings, we can think more clearly, make better decisions, and set achievable goals. This clarity of mind is essential for achieving success in any endeavour.

Increased resilience 

Inner peace helps us to develop emotional resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Success rarely happens instantly; it often involves facing obstacles and failures. Inner peace enables us to handle these difficulties with composure and learn from them, rather than being overwhelmed by negative emotions.

More Positive Outlook

We tend to have a more positive outlook when we are at peace within ourselves. We have increased optimism and motivation, which strengthens our drive to pursue and achieve our goals. Success often requires perseverance and a belief in our abilities, which inner peace can foster.

Less Stress

Inner peace is associated with reduced stress levels. High stress levels can hinder performance and creativity, making it harder to achieve success. We can stay more productive and efficient by managing stress through the regular, on-going experience of inner peace.

Increased Productivity

Inner peace lets us stay present and focused on the task. It allows us to avoid distractions and concentrate on what must be done in order to succeed. Improved focus and productivity are vital elements in reaching our goal.

Better Relationships

Inner peace often leads to healthier relationships with others. Success is often influenced by the support and collaboration of those around us. Our good relationships open doors to opportunities and provide the necessary social support to help us succeed.

Balanced Priorities

Inner peace can help us find balance in life and prioritize what truly matters. It allows us to align our goals with our values, which can lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling definition of success.

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[1] Rosaen C, Benn R. The experience of Transcendental Meditation in middle school students: a qualitative report. Explore 2006 2:422-425

[1] Schmidt-Wilk J, Alexander CN, Swanson GC. Developing consciousness in organizations: The Transcendental Meditation program in business. Journal of Business and Psychology 1996 10(4):429-444