God created man as a unique being as if he were a king over a kingdom—that is, creation itself with nature, plants, and animals. He gave him the grace of naming these creatures, and he lived happily in harmony and companionship with everything around him.

Then came sin… that germ which entered the life of the first human being, represented in Adam and Eve. Humanity fell in the test of obedience to the commandment and the enjoyment of the love of God the Creator. Man broke the commandment, broke God’s heart, and broke his own self, which was no longer whole. Conflict entered his heart and life, and it was the first seed of the conflict between Cain and Abel, even before the inhabited world was populated—where aggression and murder occurred, as Cain killed his brother Abel. Since then, human conflict has emerged: first between individuals, then between tribes and groups, and then between nations and peoples. Wars in all forms have emerged, and the mind steeped in sin has become creative in inventing weapons and developing them in every form and color. Man reached, in his conflicts, weapons of mass destruction, as if he were committing suicide and erasing his humanity from the face of the earth that the great Creator made for him and adorned with the beauty of nature and the cosmos, as the Psalm says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1 NKJV). Through sin, man lost so many things, and among the most important of them is Peace of Mind, there became very few people who enjoyed true peace of mind—peace that makes one happy and grateful before the great Creator.

Peace of mind is an internal emotional state that cannot be fully captured in words or definitions. It encompasses peace, calm, inner stillness, and the absence of worry, anxiety, tension, agitation, or negative emotions. It can only be described by someone who has lived it. Perhaps the monastic philosophy—of detachment from ownership in any form, surrendering the self without personal desires, and being in harmony with God without distraction by anything else but Him in His glory—collectively represents the peace of mind that man longs for. I do not mean that everyone should live as monks—that is impossible and illogical—but I mean that these principles should be firmly rooted in a person’s life, family, work, society, and church.

It is strange that man fully realizes that he will not take anything with him when the day comes for him to leave this world—just as he came into it with nothing. Yet, he forgets this glaring truth; his life fades away after minor or major conflicts with no relent over money and wealth, ego and power, the world and pleasure! In that, he fights, quarrels, battles, argues, becomes angry, seeks revenge… he lies to himself and tries to forget the fact of his existence, and thus loses the peace of mind that reflects on his thoughts, body, mental health, and social well-being. He ends up living as a creature that breathes and exists without humanity—or as if he is “acting out” his human existence without feeling the value for which Christ came as Redeemer and Savior, wiping away his sins and granting him a pure heart to experience peace of mind in his journey on earth, in preparation for having it with Him eternally.

Many writers around the world have recorded these feelings in their writings and novels. However, Russian literature is considered among the most expressive and immersed in the life of peace of mind, through its deep gaze into human existence. Leading this field is one of the greatest literary figures of humanity: Leo Tolstoy (September 9, 1828 – November 20, 1910), who declared his revolt against the falsehood in which the material world lives—whether it be lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life. He found himself drowning in existential questions:

What is the purpose of life?
How do we live with peace of mind?
Can we find happiness outside the circle of greed, fame, and conflict?
How do we attain inner peace?
…and other puzzling and astonishing questions.

He tried to answer them by presenting an invitation to live truly—far from masks and close to the essence of life. In his writings and stories, he mentioned many principles that could help a person achieve peace of mind. We list them here in the following seventeen rules of life:

1. Wake up early and live your day actively.
2. Do not waste time in meaningless amusement.
3. Work hard and do not depend on others to fulfill your dreams.
4. Live simply and avoid luxury and extravagance.
5. Always be honest—with yourself and with others.
6. Learn continuously—life is an endless journey of education.
7. Do not eat more than you need—care for your physical health.
8. Do not surrender to anger or hatred—learn to forgive and move on.
9. Read books that enrich your mind and soul.
10. Do not fear change—growth requires transformation.
11. Help others without expecting anything in return.
12. Be humble—pride hinders learning and growth.
13. Work for a noble purpose—not just for money.
14. Be peaceful—avoid all forms of violence or aggression.
15. Do not chase after fame or applause—do good for its sake.
16. Respect nature and live in harmony with it.
17. Remember: true happiness comes from giving, not taking.

These are merely principles that you may take some of—or all of them—into your life so that you may enjoy peace of mind, and the ship of your life may sail in peace and assurance, because “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

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