How to Experience Serenity

People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them. —Epictetus

What is serenity?

Serenity is a calm, clear mind. It’s the tranquility that comes from accepting the things you can’t control—the past, your DNA, or other people.

Tool for serenity: meditation

Imagine it as clearing your mind’s cache—closing those open ‘tabs’ in your head that slow you down and drain your battery.

Why start?

Harvard researchers found that meditation can be as effective as taking SSRIs for depression. Plus, it’s been shown to reduce stress, sharpen focus, cultivate non-reactivity, increase self-awareness, and even lower blood pressure.

How to start: change begins within

Apps like Headspace or guided meditations on YouTube are a good place to start. Personally, I like Transcendental Meditation the best, and here’s my system:

Choose a Simple Mantra
Pick a phrase you can easily repeat. I use “I am that I am,” but it can be anything like “Be still, and know that I am God” or, “I change my thoughts, I change my world.” Think of your mantra as a theme or keyword to live by.

Sit Comfortably and Set a Timer
Start with just 5 minutes. Sit, close your eyes, and breathe. As you inhale, silently repeat your mantra. As you exhale, do the same. Let it flow naturally.

Bring Your Mind Back—Don’t Resist
When your mind wanders (and it will), gently guide it back to the mantra. The goal isn’t to block thoughts but to create a steady rhythm that calms the mind.

Add a minute every few days until you reach 20 minutes.

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Challenge: commit to meditating for five minutes daily for a week. See if your mind is clearer and maybe even… serene.

You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes everyday - unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour. ―Dr. Sukhraj Dhillon