Many things can lead to an internal sense of unrest, characterised by pervasive thoughts, low energy levels and trouble sleeping. This sense of unrest can be caused by various things, making it difficult to soothe the internal monologue and find peace proactively.
What is Cognitive Dissonance?
It’s kind of a strange feeling when we say or do something that conflicts with our core belief system. We have all experienced this when we felt forced to do something during a transitional phase just to be polite and dodge any uncomfortable vibes.
Cognitive dissonance often coincides with social pressure; we might stick to our principles in private, but when faced with peer pressure, social norms, and the meh of modern life, we may choose conformity to avoid conflict or stand out from the crowd.
A Complicated World
The world is becoming ever more complex, and everything from the advancement of technology to deciding what career to embark on has ethical considerations. Making choices can become exhausting on the mind and body when deeply considering every tiny detail of life.
So, many of us choose to keep things simple, choosing something based on immediate wants or needs and repressing the cognitive dissonance surrounding these decisions. The result is that we start lying to ourselves about why the decision we made was necessary or unavoidable, even when we know deep down it wasn’t – if you find yourself trying to convince your brain that you made the right decision, the chances are you are experiencing cognitive dissonance.
Brain Health Impact
Research shows that repressed cognitive dissonance can make people feel alienated from their true selves, which has implications for brain health and behavioural problems. It’s known that many people lose sight of their values or are embarrassed to connect with their core values because their actions do not reflect their beliefs. In the long term, cognitive dissonance can become embedded with the internal monologue, causing guilt or shame over choices.
What Are Your Values?
To lock into those values, work hard to connect with cognitive dissonance, noticing when it rises and taking actions that silence the internal monologue. Most of us know what we believe to be correct and wrong, good and bad. We also know how far we are willing to stray from our values based on complicated circumstances and necessity and what crosses the moral line.
My Thoughts on Restoring Inner Peace
Restoring inner peace means living life by our core value system. Writing out your core values can be helpful, especially if you feel you have strayed from them. The temptation to give in and make choices that go against your core values will be alleviated when you notice the absence of cognitive dissonance in the back of your mind. The internal monologue that constantly tries to nudge you towards what you believe is right will 🤫, allowing you to be at peace with yourself, your actions, and your life.
Don’t get me wrong; not all internal unrest will be linked to cognitive dissonance. But by identifying your core values and making choices accordingly wherever possible, you can avoid those underlying or aggravating energies. The long-term benefit of inner peace will always outweigh the short-term fixes.
Disclosure: The information provided is for educational purposes only, based on personal experience, and should not be considered expert advice. Always seek guidance from qualified professionals regarding these topics.