Serenity and Inner Peace: Simplicity One Day at a Time

The author's search for serenity and inner peace began as a very personal search. After reviewing and thinking about a variety of literature, and listening to a lot of people, he developed a list of 130 statements that reflected serenity and inner peace. Following several studies with those statements and more than 200 subjects, the 24-item "Viterbo Serenity Inventory" emerged (a copy of which is included in the book with normative data). Analysis indicated that serenity encompassed four inter-related factors or components: 1. HIGHER POWER (including Spirituality, Search for Meaning, Pursuit of Goals) 2. HARMONY (including Acceptance/Wisdom, Anger /Resentments/Free Will, Forgiveness, Ability to Let Go of Self-pity, Self-Compassion, Self-efficacy, and Meditation/Mindfulness) 3. POSITIVITY (including Happiness/Subjective Well-Being, Positive Emotions, Sense of Humor, Play, Sense of Balance in Life, Gratitude, Humility, Optimism, Please Yourself, Cooperate Rather than Compete, Coping, Control/Locus of Control, and Time Management/Efficiency/Flow) 4. LIFESTYLE (including Living for Today, Health Psychology, Pursuit of a Simple Life, Appreciate Nature/Pets, Social Network/Support/Friendships, Social Network/Support/Intimate Relationships, Parenting, Contribute to Society/Volunteer Efforts, and Servant Leadership) The book elaborates on these four factors, describing them and providing practical considerations. In addition, the book concludes with a discussion of the relationship between serenity and positive mental health, the idea that inner peace precedes world peace, and some very practical advice from 12-Step programs (whose members actively pursue serenity in their own lives).