While this can be great for many reasons, it's not always the best environment for finding inner peace. And it doesn't help that our society is constantly pressuring us to elevate our careers and improve upon our material possessions.

As this obsession with work and money continues to weigh down on us, it becomes harder and harder to feel like there's time to find inner peace.

But here's the thing: inner peace isn't just some temporary mindset you can access whenever you please. Inner peace is a state of being that is necessary for our happiness and overall well-being.

But, with the inevitable chaos of our daily lives, it can be a struggle to find that inner peace. 

So how do you do it? And more importantly, why does finding inner peace really even matter? 

Let's take a look at the top 10 reasons why finding inner peace matters and what you need to do to find it. 

Reason #1: Increased Intelligence

People often associate peace with hippy-dippy stoners who haven't got a clue or care in the world. 

This notion needs to be wiped away, as peaceful people are often quite intelligent. 

A study conducted by Harvard University found that people who practiced mindful meditation grew bigger brains than those who didn't. Specifically, researchers found an increased thickness in people's prefrontal cortex. 

This part of the brain is responsible for decision making, planning, regulation emotions, and regulating social behavior. 

Reason #2: Improve Compassion

Practicing compassion is the best way to make yourself and others happy. 

Yet, we are often too wrapped up in our own struggles to take the time to focus on others. 

Luckily, finding peace can help you exercise your compassion muscles. According to a study published in the journal of Psychological Science, meditating can actually make you a more compassionate human being. 

Compassion can be a hard thing to measure. To measure it, the study looked at whether subjects who took part in a meditation would be more likely to come to the aid of someone in need. They found out that 50 percent of meditators acted to help, while only 15 percent of non-meditators stepped up. 

Reason #3: Happiness 

As humans, we have a tendency to focus on the negative, and in turn, breed more negativity. 

But, when finding inner peace becomes your primary goal, it becomes entirely possible to increase your happiness simply by being aware of that desire. 

This is often referred to as the power of positive thinking. The power of positive thinking is a concept that is well-studied and accepted throughout the medical community. 

Inner peace can help you let go of negative self-talk and replace these thoughts with gratitude. 

Reason #4: Protect Against Mental Decline 

The brain that focuses on peacefulness is the brain that stays sharp and alert, regardless of age. 

There is a small but growing body of evidence that shows 10-15 minutes of mindful meditation per day can slow down the cognitive effects of aging. 

And this makes perfect sense. As we discussed earlier, studies already show that meditating can increase the size of the brain. 

Reason #5: Improve Digestion

Good digestion is a key aspect to achieving sound physical, mental, and emotional health. 

But, if we lead stressful lives, our digestive tracts are often the first to suffer. This is because stress signals can negatively affect the gut and the bacteria that reside in there. 

By practicing inner peace, we can reverse the negative effects of stress on the body. 

Reason #6: Improve Immune Health 

Stress doesn't just wreak havoc on our gut, it can also wreak havoc on our immune system. 

We need our immune systems to be in top shape in order to with off diseases. Unfortunately, stress suppresses our immune system and makes us more susceptible to illness. 

But, by finding inner peace, we are able to combat this stress in order to maintain a healthy immune system.

Reason #7: Improve Mental Health 

So many people suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues. 

While the reasons for this are varied, we do know there isn't one simple way to treat these illnesses. But, more and more evidence is showing that mindful activities can help treat these disorders. 

Reason #8: Maintain Healthy Weight 

It may seem counterintuitive, but doing nothing can actually help you lose weight. 

Recent studies show that practicing mindfulness while eating can help reduce your urge to binge eat and reduce cortisol, the "fat hormone." 

Reason #9: Increase Productivity 

Many people are under the false assumption that practicing mindfulness and finding inner peace means sacrificing productivity levels. 

But actually, the opposite is true. In fact, many corporations are introducing mindfulness retreats to their employees in order to improve productivity levels. 

Aetna is one such company that implemented a mindfulness program. And since doing so, the CEO estimates the company has gained about $3,000 in productivity per employee. 

Reason #10: Improve Heart Health 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of global death. 

Many people look to improve their cardiovascular health by turning to diet and exercise. While this is certainly beneficial, many don't realize that inner peace can be just as helpful. 

One study found that a group of 200 high-risk individuals were able to reduce their risk of a heart attack by 48 percent over a 5 year period after taking a course on transcendental meditation. 

How Do I Find Inner Peace? 

Now that we've gone over the why, we need to go over the how. Finding inner peace isn't something you can do at the snap of a finger. It takes time and patience. 

But, there are some actionable strategies you can implement today to start your journey. Here are some ideas:

• Meditate
• Avoid hanging out with stressful/negative people
• Truly rest during break times
• Smile more
• Wake up early 
• Don't feel guilty about work you didn't accomplish today
• Start your day with a calm exercise
• Set your daily goals at the beginning of the day
• Get outside
• Focus on others
• Take part in a self-development program.

Finding Inner Peace: Wrap Up 

We hope this article helps you realize the importance of finding inner peace. 

Your journey to finding inner peace can begin as early as today. If you are interested in taking your first step on this journey, contact us today. Our self-improvement classes may be just what you need.