My revised edition of the sixteenth-century classic, The Spiritual Combat, contains another short work by the same author, called Peace of Soul. I find this very exciting, as this is one of my favorite subjects to read about! :) 

Dom Lawrence Scupoli writes that the most important thing (in the search for true peace of soul) is to examine the source of all our actions. Do we act from our hearts (through love)? Or do we act through our understanding (through our brains), because we've thought out what will be most beneficial to us? Often even our good deeds have ulterior motives....we will be seen doing them, it's "a good thing to do", we will be honored by others, or even because it's a tax write-off! Instead, we should act from love, not intending to get anything out of our good actions.

Then he says if we keep examining our motives, and keep working for peace, we will eventually attain it. He knows that it's a hard battle sometimes, so he continues:

"If it should happen that the emotion be too strong to be assuaged, or the weight of affliction too heavy to be borne, let us have recourse to prayer; let us pray, and this without ceasing. Jesus prayed three times in the garden in order to teach us that prayer is the refuge and solace of every afflicted mind.

"Let us pray continually till we find all quiet within our breasts, our will submissive to that of Heaven, and our soul restored to its former tranquility."

When I want to imagine a tranquil place, I think of the green fields of Ireland.

(This picture was taken on the Beara Peninsula.)