Written by Brendan Holland
I used to think peace was something I had to chase. That if I could just do the right things, meditate more, work less, be a better husband and father, get my business running smoothly… then I’d finally feel that deep exhale of peace. Life doesn’t work like that though. And if I’ve learned anything through breathwork, fatherhood, and walking this path as a man, it’s that peace isn’t something you find. It’s something you allow.
I’ve lived in a state of movement for years, traveling in a van with my family, raising four kids, running a business, and holding space for others to heal. Even now, with a home base and a dedicated breathwork space, life hasn’t magically slowed down. If anything, the demands are greater. But my relationship with peace has changed. I’ve stopped looking for it outside of myself.
Peace goes beyond the absence of noise, stress, or responsibility. It’s not something waiting for you on the other side of a retreat or a perfectly structured morning routine. It’s the quiet knowing that you are exactly where you’re meant to be, even in the mess, even in the uncertainty.
Breathwork has been my greatest teacher in this. It has shown me that peace isn’t about escaping discomfort, it is more about sitting in it, feeling it, and allowing it to move through. That deep inhale and surrendering exhale remind me, over and over again, that peace isn’t a destination you program into Google Maps. It’s right here… in this breath. In this moment.
But peace also takes work. It’s a choice. A commitment. Some days, it’s easy. Other days, it’s a fight against old stories, expectations, and the pressure to do rather than just be. As a father, it’s in those small moments, watching my kids laugh, being fully present with them instead of distracted by the next thing on my list. As a husband, it’s in the space I create for connection. And as a man, it’s in the moments I choose to drop my armour and trust that I am enough, as I am.
If you’re chasing peace, I invite you to stop running. Take a deep breath. Right now. Feel it fill you. That’s peace. Not in the future. Not when life is perfect. But right here, inside of you.
Because peace isn’t something we need to hunt down and find. It’s something we remember.
A Simple Breath Practice for Inner Peace. If you need a quick reset, try this:
- Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose.
- Hold for four seconds, feeling the stillness in your body.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth, as if you’re sighing out tension.
- Pause for a moment before taking the next inhale.
- Repeat for five rounds, letting each breath soften you into the present moment.
Notice how just a few breaths can shift your state. Peace is right here within you, waiting to be unlocked.