Creating a Peaceful Life
Cathie Leimbach • December 5, 2023
“Peace is Power”
Jeremie Kubicek
In his book, The Peace Index, Jeremie Kubicek identifies 5 aspects of our lives that greatly impact our personal peace. He explains how we can assess our Peace Index and take steps to conquer chaos and increase satisfaction in our lives.
Let’s take a look at the 5 Ps in Kubicek’s Peace Index:
- Purpose – The reason you get out of bed. Do you know what excites you, what makes you get up in the morning anticipating a wonderful day? How often do have a chance to exercise your purpose? If you aren’t living your purpose, what can you do to have a job, a hobby, or other activities that make your life feel purposeful?
- People – Those who make or break us. How much time are you spending with people who lift you up, who make you smile, and who you look forward to seeing? If you feel stressed by the people around you, how can you pursue relationships with others who could brighten your mood?
- Place – The spaces that supercharge us. Do you feel relaxed and recharged by laying on a beach by the ocean or by climbing in the Rockies? Are you happier living in a large city with lots of entertainment options or in a small town where you see familiar faces every day? Do you like to start your Saturdays with coffee in bed or at the local café? If your environment is not energizing you, what can you do to increase the time you spend in pleasant places?
- Personal Health – Choosing something better. How healthy is your diet? What exercise are you getting regularly? If you aren’t happy with your health, what is one personal health goal you would like to work towards in the next 6 months? What step can you take towards that goal this week?
- Provision – Nothing to Fear. Does your personal or household income enable you to have shelter, food, clothing, and funds for leisure activities? How stable is your income? If you are anxious about how you are going to pay your bills, what can you do to earn more money or reduce your expenses?
To determine your Peace Index, rate your current situation on each of the 5 Ps from 1 (very discouraged) to 5 (very satisfied). To increase your Peace Index, what is one step you can take this week to improve your P with the lowest rating?
When we make decisions and take actions to move towards a more peaceful and fulfilling life we will be happier, healthier, and more resilient. We will be experiencing more peace which gives us the power to achieve our goals and support others in achieving theirs. When you take steps to being more at peace how will both you and others around you benefit?
Take control of the chaos in your life. Do something that lights up your life so you can experience peace this holiday season.
A growth mindset means believing you can get smarter and develop new skills through hard work and practice. People with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to grow. On the other hand, a fixed mindset means thinking your talents and abilities cannot change much, no matter how hard you try. People with a growth mindset are more likely to exercise self-discipline to learn new behaviors. This helps us adapt to new opportunities. When we push ourselves to try different approaches, we open doors that would otherwise remain closed. This takes courage and commitment, especially at first when new ways of doing things feel uncomfortable or difficult. Our brains have amazing potential to change throughout our lives. When we repeatedly practice new skills or ways of thinking, our brain creates new pathways that make these actions easier over time. What once felt impossible can gradually become second nature. The hard part is sticking with new behaviors long enough for them to become normal. This is where self-discipline comes in . By consistently practicing different approaches, what once required enormous effort eventually feels natural. This ability to adapt keeps us growing, helps us keep up with our changing world, and unlocks possibilities we might never have imagined.
In today's busy workplace, asking good questions can make you better at your job. Open-ended questions—ones that need more than just "yes" or "no" answers—help you learn more and have better conversations with others. Research shows these questions really work. Gallup found that managers who use open-ended questions have 27% less employee turnover and 18% better productivity. These questions make team members feel safe to share their ideas. Harvard Business Review says that when bosses ask at least four open-ended questions in meetings, teams come up with 42% more creative solutions. By asking instead of telling, leaders get more ideas from everyone. McKinsey discovered that managers who are good at asking open-ended questions find 34% more opportunities for process improvement. These questions help spot problems and challenge old ways of thinking. These benefits go beyond just team conversations. The Journal of Applied Psychology found that salespeople who use open-ended questions with customers make 23% more sales. By better understanding what customers need, they can offer better solutions. Learning to ask open-ended questions isn't just about talking better—it's a skill that helps you succeed in all parts of work. Click here for more information.