Reflections on Henry van Dyke’s The Foot-path to Peace

Henry van Dyke’s “The Foot-Path to Peace” is more than just a collection of poetic words—it’s a simple yet profound guide to a fulfilling life. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on his perspective and why his message remains relevant today.

The Simple Truth About Happiness

Van Dyke begins by emphasizing the reasons to be happy, which are surprisingly intuitive. The happier I am, the more creative I become, and the more I appreciate the simple things—looking up at the stars, listening to the rain, or feeling the wind through the trees. This effortless joy makes life richer, yet we often forget this truth amid daily struggles.

I know happiness is a choice, yet sometimes I forget—as if experiencing a temporary form of amnesia! It feels like a “leap of faith,” but when I truly understand it, it’s no longer faith; it’s a realization.

Why We Keep Forgetting (And Remembering)

It’s fascinating how people who grasp this truth often feel compelled to share it, shaping their insights within the context of their culture, time, and geography. Van Dyke refers to “guide-posts”—signs that point to a fundamental yet easily forgotten truth.

So, here’s my takeaway:

Be happy. Relax now. Don’t get caught up in overthinking or inner turmoil. When you stop fixating on the mind’s noise, what remains is pure experience. Ironically, it feels like nothingness—and yet, it’s peace.

Henry van Dyke’s Guide-Posts to Peace

Van Dyke beautifully outlines his version of this wisdom in “The Foot-Path to Peace”:

To be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.
To be contented with your possessions but not with yourself until you have made the best of them.
To despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness and to fear nothing except cowardice.
To be governed by your admirations rather than your disgusts.
To covet nothing of your neighbor’s except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners.
To think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Christ.
To spend as much time as possible—in body and spirit—in God’s great outdoors.

These simple yet profound truths serve as guideposts for a life of peace.

Final Thoughts

Van Dyke’s wisdom reminds us of something we already know but frequently forget: happiness is not something we chase—it is “not believing” the thought that “happiness should be chased”. Peace comes not from fixing external circumstances but from shifting our inner perspective.

So, take a breath. Relax into the present. And perhaps, just for a moment, let go of overthinking and enjoy the nothingness—which, in reality, is everything. one of the questions that strangely make me feel better whenever there’s some “problem” in my life is : “how good can you stand it?” it just quiet the noise and let me give more room to goodness! try it out and let me know what you feel about it.