Optimal Ways of Attaining Inner Tranquility and Serenity

This life is not our eternal dwelling but a short-lived and ephemeral
abode. A person is destined to face sundry pains, suffering, hardships
and sorrows in this transient life, as there are many reasons that
lead to boredom, dullness, irritation and anxiety. Allaah The Almighty
Says (what means): {We have certainly created man into hardship.}
[Quran 90:4]
Indeed, everyone faces suffering and hardships in their lives. Misery
and adversities are inherently characteristic of this ephemeral life.
However, what distinguishes people in this regard is the way they
handle their suffering and hardship and the methods and strategies
they employ to deal with the reasons for their dullness, irritation,
and anxiety.
Despite all the available conveniences, luxuries, and amenities that
we enjoy today, and although we possess all that we need in order to
relish a comfortable life and worldly bliss, boredom and anxiety is
stillgrowing among people! This should drive all those who seek
happiness to start looking for thereal reasons that help one attain
happiness, inner tranquility and serenity, peace of mind, stability,
and to find ways to eradicate all traces of boredom and anxiety.
Undoubtedly, among the best methods of gaining inner tranquility and
serenity and helping one to endure hardships and calamities are:
1- Sincere faith and righteous deeds: Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): {Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he
is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We
will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the
best of what they used to do.} [Quran 16:97]
2- Adapting one's heart and preparing oneself mentally to endure
unfavorable situations, adversities and calamities makes it easy for
one to face them. It also lessens and diminishes their intensity and
severity, and helps one to move on and endure whatever happens to him.
On theother hand, if one expects only good and favorable results in
all his worldly affairs, this feeling can actually incur many crises
and hardships.
3- One should give up all illusions and phobias, as giving in to
themis one of the greatest reasons for feelings of embitterment in
this life. Indeed, one of the well-known phobias that many people
experience is the fear of the future and of the unknown. People tend
to occupy themselves with anticipating their future and are neck-deep
in their plans and concerns, instead of living in the present.
Accordingly, this results in missing the opportunity to rectifyone's
present because of the concerns and fears for a tomorrow that he may
not even live through. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {... And
more appropriate for them [would have been]* Obedience and good words.
And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been
true to Allaah, it would have been better for them.} [Quran 47:20-21]
One should not give in to such illusions and phobias; instead, one
should put his trust in Allaah,the Exalted, turning only to Him.
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And upon Allaah rely, if you
should be believers.} [Quran 5:23]
4- One should not give too much weight to troubles, exaggerate one's
problems and make a mountain out of a molehill, since this creates
unnecessary anxiety and confusion. This is also the reason behind
absentmindednessand distraction, causing one to be lost and engrossed
in endless problems that crop up one after the other, creating a
vicious cycle.
5- One should bear in mind that hardships and calamities, no matter
how long they last, will soon come to an end – they are ephemeral,
like life itself. No one maintains the same living conditions all
through; change is a norm in this life. Indeed, such conviction makes
one full of hopeand helps one to endure adversities and tribulations.
Patience helps one to overcome any difficulty and is the best of
allblessings.
6- One should remember Allaah The Almighty all the time.