Inner peace may seem like a mythical¹ peak. Almost unachievable, far away, maybe even unreal for many. In fact, for almost every single one of us. Indeed, very few can rightly claim “I feel calm right now” in a midst of stressful situations, worries or problems requiring immediate² attention.

内心的平和好像神话中的巅峰之境，几乎难以企及，对很多人来说可能子虚乌有。实际上，对于每一个个体而言，鲜有人做到在紧张、烦恼、有问题急需解决的情况下依然可以说“我现在觉得很平静”。

However, there is a secret. The only way to achieve the fabled³ inner peace is to embrace the fact that it is only marginally defined by outer circumstances. Mainly, it is a choice you must make for yourself. You can be calm and peaceful in any situation by surprisingly, simply choosing to. This requires constant practice, but with practice your inner peace can become a habit, and then, a reality.

不过，这也是有秘诀的。唯一一个达到传说的内心平和的方法就是去接受那些仅仅由外界环境塑造的事实。首先，这是你为自己做的一个选择。你可以出乎意料地在任何情境下保持平和，只要你选择这么做。这就需要持续的练习，只要通过练习，内心的平和会成为一种习惯，然后，成为你的常态。

So, these are the steps you may start with. Even by following these few suggestions, and constantly reminding yourself about them, you can make, eventually, inner peace your normal state of mind.

所以呢，有一些方法你可以尝试一下。事实上，通过不断遵循这些建议，持续提醒自己，最终，你也可以保持平和的常态！

1. Simplify

1．简单化

Simplicity⁴ contributes to inner peace because it allows you to direct your energy and effort into one single point. Get rid of everything that hinders you, including acquaintances and friends who may only drain you while giving you nothing in return. Remember that the key is always quality over quantity. Throw out or give away everything that you don't really need. Every time you buy something new, ask yourself whether you can do without it, whether it's really necessary to you. Don't let unnecessary information like TV news or gossip into your life. Keep it simple and at all times stay focused on one or two tasks that matter.

简单化，可以帮助追寻内心的平和，因为它帮助你将精力和时间集中在同一个点上。丢弃那些阻碍你的一切，包括那些只会消耗你却不予回报的泛泛之交以及朋友。记住，秘诀就是质量永远胜于数量。每一次你想买新东西的时候，问问自己你是不是没有也可以，它是不是真是必需品。不要让电视新闻、流言蜚语等一些无关信息干扰你的生活。保持简单化并且始终只关注一两个重要的任务。

2. Direct your mind on the present moment

2．关注当下

The only time that truly exists is this present moment. Past was, once, the present and future will once too, become the present. For all that matters, you should not obsess⁵ yourself by things gone. Or by the unpredictable future, which is in fact nothing more than your fantasy. So be focused on the present. Give all your best to it, and simply live. Don't let the real, present moment go by because you live in the past or in the future.

过去的已经过去，未来藏于现在。只有现在真实存在。最重要的是，永远不要沉浸在过去的事情中。或者是不可预测的未来，那只不过是你的幻想而已。所以关注当下吧。倾尽所有，简单生活。不要因为你活在过去、活在未来而让真实存在的今天流逝。

3. Express gratitude⁶

3．表达感恩

Stop and think about how fortunate you really are. Your mind may constantly wander off in the future, and desire something new. Yet if you are reading this article, you probably are relatively⁷ well off. Just think about the fact that 80% of the world population lives on less than $10 a day. Or that 20% can not even read or write.

停下来想想自己有多么幸运。你的思绪可能会常常天马行空思索未来，渴望新生活。不过，如果你在读这篇文章，你可能相对来说生活宽裕。想想，世界上还有80%的人每一天只靠10美元度日。还有20%的人不会读书写字。

Try to think about all the things you have, there sure are plenty. Then realize that your mind is, at times, your worst enemy. Remember that even if you get what you hope for at this instant, your mind will very soon find some new object of desire. This is a vicious circle you can only break by expressing gratitude for what you already have or achieved, more and often. Even for the simplest things we otherwise take for granted.

尝试着想想你所拥有的东西，肯定也是数之不尽的。那么请意识到你的大脑有时可能是你最大的敌人。记住即使你现在能拿到你想要的东西，你的大脑也会很快找到新欢。这就是一个恶性循坏，只有通过经常地表达感恩，对你所拥有的东西和实现的事情满怀感恩之情，你才能打破这个循环。

4. Try it someone else's way

4. 接受新观点

Your point of view should not be a law. Do not hold to it and be quick to let it go whenever it gets shaken by a better logic⁸ or opinion. When you find yourself in an argument, do not make a battle out of it. Remember that argument should be a synonym⁹ to discussion. If you find yourself on a losing side, be strong enough to accept a flaw in your opinion and thank a person for enriching your perspective. At all costs, keep your mind open. Life is a constant growth and motion, and whoever clings to his fixed¹⁰ ways, is eventually left alone behind.

你的观点并非真理。当一种更好的思想颠覆你的观点的时候，不要固执己见，让那些不快快速逝去。当你发现自己身陷争论之中时，不要将其变成战争。记住争辩是讨论的同义词。如果你意识到自己站在失败的一方，勇敢地接受你观点中的漏洞，并去感谢那些让你的思想更丰满的人。无论如何，保持开放的心态。人生是一个不断成长不断变化地过程，那些墨守成规的人最终会与社会脱节。

5. Remember that everything will pass

5. 记住时间会治愈一切

Look around yourself and ponder for a while about the fact that everything – EVERYTHING – will once pass. Time can be generous, but ultimately, it is indifferent. However dark it may sound, everything and everybody will eventually perish. Nothing is forever, so how senseless it is to wage little personal wars with people you happen to dislike, or to give into sorrow over a break-up? Time will heal even the deepest wounds, but it will work faster if you don't scratch them… So, quite often, the best option is to simply let time resolve the problem. Because it inevitably¹¹ will, eventually.

环顾四周，思索一下这个事实，一切——万事万物——终究会消逝。时间是最慷慨的，不过，它也是冷漠的。无论这听起来多冷酷，每一个人、每一个事物最终都会消逝。没有什么是永恒的，所以与那些你讨厌的人发生争执，为分手而伤心难过，这些都毫无意义。时间会治愈一切，即使是最深的伤口，如果你不去触碰，它会更快地治愈。所以，通常最好的选择就是把问题留给时间解决。因为这些终究不可避免会消逝。

6. Smile

6．保持微笑

That's right, just smile. A simple smile does wonders. It can help to soften¹² hearts, make “no” into “yes” and instantly change mood of others as well as your own. Smile to members of your family, smile to your coworkers, smile to everybody you meet. Smile even to yourself in the mirror if there's nobody else around. Smile is deeply connected to Love. And what you give, comes back to you later. Notice that it's impossible to sincerely smile and to experience anger, sorrow or jealousy¹³ at the same time. While smiling, you can't help but feel calmness, happiness and love.

是的，只要微微一笑。一个简单的微笑也能产生奇迹。它可以唤醒最柔软的心灵，可以收回快到嘴边的拒绝，可以快速改变别人的以及自己的心情。对家人微笑，对同事微笑，微笑面对每一个你遇到的人。即使一个人照镜子的时候也要对自己微笑。微笑是与爱联系在一起的。你所给予的，最终也会回馈你。你要知道一个人不可能同时微笑，同时生气、悲伤、嫉妒。微笑的时候，你会情不自禁地感到平静，感受到幸福与爱。

7. Take your time

7. 慢慢来，别着急

Be patient. Enjoy your life as a kind of journey. Everything will happen when the time is right. Good or bad, all is finely interconnected and you can not be defeated until you yourself proclaim capitulation. Remember something bad that happened to you? Try to think of what good it also gave you. If this “bad” experience didn't happen, how much different you'd be from your current self? Try to appreciate small things in life, good or bad. And take your time.

要有耐心。把生活看成一趟旅途。在恰当的时机一切都会到来。祸福相依。你永远不会倒下，除非你自己承认失败。回想一下发生在你身上的不好的经历？试着思考一下它带给你的好处。如果那些“不好”的经历没有发生，你会同现在的自己多么不一样呢？尝试着欣赏生活中的小事情，无论好坏。慢慢来，别着急。