Summary of Seneca’s “Peace of Mind”

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What follows is a very brief summary of Seneca’s letter titled “Piece of Mind.” The letter’s purpose was to provide guidance on how to achieve serenity—the ideal state of the Stoic sage. The letter’s recipient was his good friend Serenus, who had asked how he might better control his vices in order to experience greater tranquility.

Seneca begins by affirming that tranquility is the most important thing in life. People don’t achieve it for various reasons but the solution resides within our own minds not by fleeing from oneself.

To promote tranquility Seneca makes numerous suggestions including

Live in the service of othersEngage in philosophyBe aware of your limitationsChose your pursuits and associates carefullyDon’t be too attached to or have excess material goodsAccept that you will lose many precious things in lifeAccept that disease and death will eventually comeAccept that tragedy that good people will sufferEnjoy both solitude with socializing, work, and leisurePlay with children, dance, and enjoy games.

Note – This is obviously just a few bullet points from reading the essay. For more click on the link above which will take you to the letter itself. What I can say is that peace of mind is a wonderful state if you can achieve it. It is something I strive for although I often miss the mark.