“My peace I give you.” Gospel of John 14 : 27

Several years ago the sociology department of Duke University did a study on Peace of Mind. By carefully examining the different attitudes and habits of people who were enjoying peace of mind and those who generally felt unhappy and under pressure, they discovered eight factors which contributed to peace of mind.

1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in robbing a person of peace within.

2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression and the absence of peace of mind.

3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. This will enable you to live in the present moment and have peace of mind.

4. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress. We are social creatures and we need one another for support so as to maintain a calm and peaceful attitude amidst the pressures of life.

5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune. Acceptance of the things you cannot change and the ability to move on will enable you to achieve peace of mind.

6. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues: love, honor, compassion and loyalty. These are habits of the heart which nurture peace of mind and harmony among people.

7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. Resignation or acceptance of what’s inevitable removes feelings of inadequacy and leads to peace of mind.

8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered, egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring peace of mind.

When you read these eight points which describe people who have “peace of mind,” you will see how God’s will and your faith in Christ to impart His peace to you are essential in every one of them. The forgiveness of sins by God’s grace, the conviction that “all things work together for good to those who love God,” accepting ourselves as imperfect, and commitment to the vision of God’s redeeming plans for the world. All of these Christian truths help us take these practical steps toward living with peace of mind.

Let me conclude with the Serenity Prayer that God may grant us Peace of Mind:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the Courage to change the things I can,

and the Wisdom to know the difference.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy