Peace of mind for five minutes, that's what I crave.

Hear the yearning words of Alanis Morissette, who cried out: “Peace of mind for five minutes, that’s what I crave.” At first, these words may strike us as a lament, the sigh of one overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of life. Yet when examined with the eyes of wisdom, they reveal a profound truth about the human spirit: that amid all the riches, fame, and power one might gain, the greatest treasure of all is stillness within. For what value is a crown if the mind cannot rest? What joy is there in success if the heart is never quiet?

Mark this truth, O seeker: peace of mind is not a luxury, but the very foundation of a life well-lived. It is the silent soil in which joy grows, the calm sea upon which purpose sails. Without it, even five minutes of true stillness becomes a treasure greater than gold. Morissette’s words remind us that in a world of constant demands, distractions, and desires, the soul longs not for more noise but for silence, not for more movement but for rest. To crave peace, even for a fleeting moment, is to recognize its eternal worth.

Consider the example of Buddha, who left behind wealth, family, and status in search of an answer to suffering. After years of wandering and striving, he found enlightenment not through conquest, nor through endless striving, but beneath the Bodhi tree, in stillness. His journey reveals the same truth Morissette proclaims: that the restless human heart longs for rest, that the weary soul craves peace above all. For even five minutes of true serenity holds more power than years of restless chasing.

Think also of Abraham Lincoln, who during the American Civil War bore burdens that could break the strongest of men. Surrounded by death, betrayal, and division, he often retreated into solitude to read, to pray, or to sit in silence. Those brief moments of quiet were his refuge, his source of strength. Without them, he could not have endured the storms of leadership. His life testifies that moments of peace of mind, however short, are not idle—they are the anchor that steadies the ship in tempestuous seas.

Yet Morissette’s cry carries also the sound of our age. For today we live in a world more restless than any before it—our minds crowded with endless voices, our lives bound by ceaseless motion. To sit still has become rare, to quiet the mind almost impossible. And so her words echo the craving of millions: to escape the flood of thought, to silence the clamor of worry, to taste for even five minutes the sweetness of inner calm.

The lesson, O listener, is this: peace of mind must be sought deliberately. It will not come unbidden, for the world is loud. You must carve out moments of silence as a gardener clears weeds from the soil. Practice meditation, prayer, or simple breathing. Step away from the endless rush of tasks, and guard moments of stillness as one guards treasure. Even five minutes of true calm can renew the heart, clear the mind, and restore strength for the battles ahead.

Therefore, let Morissette’s words be your guide. Do not scorn small moments of peace, for they hold eternal value. Seek them in the morning before the day begins, in the evening before rest, or even in the midst of chaos when the heart turns inward to stillness. For five minutes of peace, sincerely grasped, may cure what hours of striving cannot. And as you cultivate this discipline, you will discover not only fleeting calm, but an abiding serenity that no storm of life can shake.