By Tami Principe

What does inner peace mean?

It means, when the world outside of you is going crazy, or is just too loud, and it doesn't affect you. It means staying balanced, both physically and mentally when the ground beneath you is shaking. It also means that you have seen and felt it all, and nothing that happens can sway you in either direction.

You have cried until you can’t cry anymore. You ran until your legs have been drained of all their strength. You have been embarrassed and humiliated until it didn't matter anymore. You have been left alone so much that you don’t feel lonely anymore. You have felt pain all the way to your soul and it can’t be pierced anymore. You look around and nothing or anyone can faze you anymore.

What is left is not solitude, but an awakening of your spirit. What is left is not sadness but pure joy. What is left is not hatred nor despair, but a new found appreciation and a better understanding of the good times, the bad times and the courage that has been brought forth from the hard times.

What is learned is so important:

Take only what you need, this way the next life will be able to exist.

Each person’s perception of life varies, you create your own.

Life has no walls, you build your own.

Fear does not exist; we imagine this on our own.

Lastly, everything is a mirror, a reflection which enables everyone to have their own perception.

Let me explain, on a sunny day a butterfly dances in the sky until it lands on a beautiful yellow rose. Some people focus on the butterfly, noticing all the beautiful colors. Others might take notice of the rose, or the ground which the rose is planted. You can take one picture and you will get a lot of people telling you what their perceptions are. The reason is it mirrored is because it is mirrored in your imagination first, and then you form your perception of it. Is it beautiful or ugly? Is it very sunny or partly sunny? These are all your own perceptions of your very own picture.

Inner peace, inner beauty and inner strength all come from the same place; they dwell in your soul. Some days you might have to dig a little deeper than others to reach it. Having inner peace will change your perception of what a bad day is, or how people are. You see the world in a different light, from a better place that stems from a loving place, your soul...