I am currently working on the midda of menuchas hanefesh, based on the early 19th century sefer, Cheshbon Ha'Nefesh. Many mussar works emphasize attaining high spiritual levels, while he stresses attaining high levels in universal values. This approach may be called "shleymus ha'adam", while the former would be termed "gadlus ha'adam". This midda is the first of the thirteen middos that he assumes people generally need to work on.
What is the importance of menuchas hanefesh ? Furthermore, is there any significance to this midda being first on the list ?
The Ba'aley Mussar say that "atzlus", laziness, is the worst of all the bad middos, because a lazy person will always be too lazy to work on his middos. In other words, while there are other bad middos, and although they are often connected, laziness is the one midda that affects every single other midda; a lazy person will never get anywhere. I think that the strength of Menuchas Ha'Nefesh is directed against atzlus. In kochos hanefesh, laziness and menuchas hanefesh are opposites. The posture of a lazy person is, to paraphrase Stephen Covey, one of reactions, while that of a "calm person" is one of responses. A lazy person is reactive, a calm person, proactive. He has to take charge of himself to stay relaxed. A person with menuchas hanefesh sets the tone in any situation. The nature of a lazy person is that he doesn't do anything. He's stagnant. He always finds himself a product of circumstances instead of creating the circumstances.
If this is the case, we understand why this midda is not just important, but is basic and essential in all areas of avodas hamiddos. The midda of Menuchas Hanefesh demands that we don't lose ourselves and get flustered. Basically, keep your cool. It takes great strength to maintain one's composure. A person who succeeds in the midda of menuchas hasnefesh has the fundamental tools necessary to succeed in all areas of avodas hamiddos.
