How to attain peace of mind?

The most common problem observed in clinics today is lack of peace of mind.

The mind's refusal to be at peace is the beginning of mental illness.
Long-term studies indicate that by 2030, the number of people affected by depression in India will increase significantly.
Where exactly does this peace of mind reside?
Many of us go on pilgrimages to find it.
Many visit temples and shrines.
Many seek peace of mind through alcohol and smoking, in the wrong way.
Our peace of mind depends on how we live our lives.
We slept peacefully in our mother's womb,
but from the moment we are born, the demands of the world take over.

However, the sleep we enjoyed as innocent children gradually eludes us.
Most people here cannot even imagine sleeping like a child.
Sleep is natural;
the inability to sleep is an early symptom of mental illness.
Why does the sleep that came easily in childhood become elusive as we grow older?
This is due to chemical changes in the brain related to the body.
However, there is a close connection between our mind and body.
These two cannot be viewed separately.

Our life is the union of body and mind.
A disease of the mind affects the body,
and a disease of the body affects the mind.
Lack of peace of mind is often not inherent in us,
but it is imposed upon us by our society.
When we compare ourselves to others, our peace of mind is disturbed.
Approaching worldly life with a "competitive mindset" constantly disrupts our peace of mind.
Treating everyone around us as a competitor harms our peace of mind. The constant dissatisfaction with the blessings and wealth we have received in our lives, and with what God has bestowed upon us, pushes us towards mental illness over time.
We cannot simply dismiss our role by claiming that only our body, brain, and chemicals are responsible for all this.
Our mind has an equal role to play, and how healthily we maintain it is crucial.

We all approach life with a perspective of it being a race.
This is "wrong".
When we approach life like a race, we don't just focus on running ourselves, but we also look at the person next to us, constantly wondering whether they will overtake us or we will overtake them.
Furthermore, it leads to the habit of running in someone else's lane.
It also leads to the habit of tripping others.
When we approach life like a race, a frenzy develops to somehow overtake others and win.
This frenzy blinds us to everything else.
This frenzy only shows "victory" before our eyes.
It refuses to accept defeat.
Consequently, our peace of mind is shattered.
But what is the reality?
Life should always be run like a marathon.
In a marathon, there is no victory or defeat for anyone.
The person running next to you is not a competitor.
They are a fellow traveler.
When we think like this...
If our fellow traveler running with us gets thirsty, we can give them water.
If they get a wound, we can provide medicine.
Both of us can run together and cover the distance.
If our fellow traveler doesn't have running shoes like us, we can give them our extra pair of shoes.
They will give us the excess water they have.
God has actually designed our lives as such a marathon.
God desires that we help each other and run together in mutual support. Marathon runners never run very fast or in a hurry;
They run at a steady pace.
They calmly observe and enjoy what's happening around them as they run.
They listen to their favorite music on headphones, enjoying the run or walk.
They don't worry if someone else is running faster than them.
Imagine such a life.
Without losing our peace of mind, we will sleep easily.
Life is certainly a marathon,
not a sprint race.
Those who run patiently, steadily, and enjoy the journey, helping fellow runners along the way,
and finally cross the finish line are the winners.
If we approach life
not as a "Competitive Exam"
but as a "Qualifying Exam,"
we can easily overcome many mental problems.
In a Competitive Exam, ten thousand people compete for ten seats.
Therefore, the tendency arises to see everyone as a competitor and an enemy.
If someone next to us studies better than us, we feel envy and resentment.

Now, think about this:
Imagine that in an exam where ten thousand people are writing, there are seats for all ten thousand.
But if the condition is that to succeed in that exam,
we only need to pass certain basic requirements,
would there be so much competition?
So much envy?
So much resentment?
So much pride?
So much arrogance?
So much malice?
Life is only a Qualifying Exam for us,
not a Competitive Exam...

Here, each person has their own unique
set of questions.