Not Doing This ONE Thing Is Sabotaging Your Peace

Not Doing This ONE Thing Is Sabotaging Your Peace

You wake up feeling the weight of another long day ahead. Deadlines loom, emails pile up, and personal responsibilities keep pulling at you. By noon, you’re already drained. By evening, your mind is racing with everything you didn’t finish. If this cycle feels familiar, the reason why you might be feeling overwhelmed is because your focus is in the wrong place.

Psalm 121:1 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” This isn’t just poetic language; it’s a direct invitation to change your perspective. Science confirms what Scripture has told us all along—where you direct your eyes and attention affects your emotions, stress levels, and even your body’s nervous system.

The Neuroscience of Looking Up

Research shows that physically looking upwards can reduce stress and shift your brain into a more positive state. When you lift your eyes, your body naturally engages in deeper breathing, your nervous system calms down, and your mind becomes more open to hope. In contrast, looking downward is associated with feelings of defeat and anxiety.

This aligns with what spiritual wisdom has taught for centuries. St. John of the Ladder wrote, “Fix your mind above and you will descend into peace.” The battle for peace isn’t just external—it starts in your focus.

Why Your Focus Determines Your Strength

The world keeps throwing distractions at you—bad news, social pressures, financial worries, never-ending to-do lists. If your focus stays on these, your anxiety will keep growing. But Scripture reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

The Desert Fathers knew this well. They understood that peace doesn’t come from controlling circumstances but from directing the heart toward God. One early Christian monk taught, “Where your mind goes, your heart follows.” If your attention is locked onto problems, stress will take root. If you lift your eyes, you will find strength beyond yourself.

A Simple Reset for Your Mind and Spirit

Try this right now:

1. Stop what you’re doing.

2. Lift your eyes up. Find a point above you to focus on.

3. Take a deep breath in and slowly exhale.

4. Pray Psalm 121:1: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?”

This small action can reset your nervous system, refocus your mind, and remind your soul that your help comes from the Lord.

The Key to Lasting Peace

True peace doesn’t come from fixing every problem—it comes from knowing where to look. Don’t let stress pull you downward. Lift your eyes. Fix your heart. And remember, you are never alone.