How to find balance, serenity, and meaning
Maimonides, who was both a physician and a philosopher, viewed the human soul as an inseparable part of a person’s overall well-being.
He taught that just as there are laws for caring for the body, there are principles for caring for the soul.
In his eyes, a truly healthy person is one who lives in balance — not extreme, not explosive, not overly sad and not excessively cheerful, rather living in inner harmony.
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The Middle Path — The Key to Serenity
Maimonides repeatedly emphasized the principle of the “middle path” (also called “the golden path”):
Every good trait is the balance point between two negative extremes.
For example:
- Between wastefulness and stinginess — stands generosity.
- Between cowardice and arrogance — stands courage.
- Between anger and apathy — stand humility and patience.
According to him, a healthy soul is one that knows how to maintain balance — not swept away by extremes of emotion, rather steady, thoughtful, and calm.
He called this “the health of the soul,” just as medicine deals with the health of the body.
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Mastery of Character Traits — True Emotional Healing
Maimonides saw the refinement of character traits not only as a moral task but as genuine emotional therapy.
In his view, negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, or arrogance are real psychological illnesses, because they disrupt judgment and inner peace.
And just as a physician treats the body gradually, the soul also requires gradual healing:
Through awareness, practice, and responsibility for one’s emotions.
For example, a person prone to anger should practice distancing themselves from anger triggers, speaking gently, and remembering that anger does not help.
This is “therapy” in Maimonides’ language — not necessarily through conversation, but through actions that guide the heart.
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Joy and Faith
Maimonides considered joy one of the most important remedies for the soul.
However, he emphasized that the right kind of joy is not wild excitement, but meaningful joy — the joy of a person who knows he is doing good, acting with integrity, and living in harmony with himself and with his Creator.
He wrote that one should “always be joyful,” because sadness weakens both body and soul.
The path to true joy, according to him, is gratitude — noticing the good, even in small things.
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A Healthy Soul in a Healthy Body
Maimonides repeatedly spoke of the direct connection between body and soul:
When the body is weak, the soul also struggles to remain balanced; and when the soul is troubled, the body weakens.
Therefore, he recommended adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, daily movement, and mental rest — because all of these directly influence the state of the mind.
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The Human Purpose — Living with Meaning
According to Maimonides, one of the main causes of inner unrest is lack of purpose.
When a person forgets why they live, they are drawn toward desires, competition, and worry.
But when they understand that they have a mission — to learn, to create, to help, to do good — they find peace in their heart.
Thus, he wrote:
“A person was created to know their Creator and walk in His ways.”
Meaning — to live a life of wisdom, goodness, and balance.
The Universal Message
Maimonides’ teachings on the soul offer a gentle and realistic approach to life:
Do not seek perfection — seek balance.
Do not fight yourself — rather learn to understand yourself.
And don’t forget that simple joy, integrity, and humility – are the deepest medicine for the soul.
Maimonides saw the human being as a creature of light — body, soul, and intellect working together.
When all three are in harmony – a person lives a full, peaceful, and illuminated life.
