Quiet Practices That Create Inner Peace

By Jennifer Kelleher

I came across one of Yung Pueblo’s posts recently that stopped me mid-scroll. It was simple. There was no long explanation, just a short list titled, “Rules of Inner Peace.” And something about it felt deeply familiar… less like advice and more like a mirror.

Not because I follow all of those “rules” perfectly. I don’t. But because each one represents something I’ve learned the long way, usually through discomfort, tension, or a moment where I realized, this way isn’t working anymore.

Inner peace isn’t something we arrive at once and keep forever. It’s not a personality trait or a destination. It’s something we practice daily, imperfectly, and often quietly.

Staying honest, for example, sounds simple until you realize how often we soften the truth to keep the peace, to avoid rocking the boat, or to protect someone else’s comfort at the expense of our own. Over time, that dishonesty doesn’t disappear; it lives in the body as tension, resentment, and fatigue. I’ve learned that honesty isn’t about being harsh; it’s about being clear, and clarity is kind.

Healing the past is another one that sounds lofty until you realize it’s less about reliving old stories and more about noticing when the past is running the present. When old reactions show up in new situations. When we’re responding from a wound instead of the moment we’re actually in. Awareness alone can be incredibly healing.

One line that really landed for me was, “pause instead of reacting.” That pause, sometimes just one breath, is where everything changes. It’s the space where we get to choose instead of default. It’s where boundaries are born. It’s where growth actually happens. Most of the time, peace isn’t lost in big dramatic moments; it’s lost in small, unconscious reactions.

Speaking boundaries has been one of the most transformative (and uncomfortable) practices of my adult life. Boundaries aren’t walls, they’re clarity. They tell people how to meet us. And when we don’t speak them, the body eventually does– through stress, burnout, or withdrawal. Peace doesn’t come from being endlessly flexible; it comes from being honest about what we can and cannot hold.

Another line reads, “don’t get attached to drama.” That one made me smile, because drama often sneaks in disguised as urgency or importance. Stepping out of it doesn’t mean we stop caring. It means we stop feeding what drains us. We learn to protect our energy not by controlling life, but by choosing where we place our attention.

Living in the present moment might be the most repeated phrase in the wellness world, but it’s repeated for a reason. Peace doesn’t live in the replaying of yesterday or the anticipation of tomorrow. It lives in this breath, this body, and this moment, however imperfect it is.

And finally, be flexible. Change is inevitable, and resisting it creates suffering. Working with it creates resilience.

Inner peace, I’m learning, isn’t loud. It doesn’t announce itself. It’s felt more than it’s seen. It shows up as a nervous system that can settle, a mind that doesn’t need to prove, and a heart that feels steady even when life isn’t.

It’s not about doing all the things right. It’s about doing the inner work gently, consistently, and honestly.

If you’re craving more space to slow down, listen inward, and practice these quieter forms of peace, you’re always welcome at Ocean Bliss Yoga in Rockaway Beach. Through movement, breath, stillness, and community, we create room to reconnect with ourselves, exactly as we are. Join us for classes and seasonal workshops, or learn more at www.oceanblissyoga.net and on Instagram @ocean_blissyoga. You can contact me directly at 917-318-1168. We’d love to have you!