What is the theme in Peace Is Every Step by Nhat Hanh?

Another primary focus of the novel is learning to deal with anger and suffering on an individual basis. Hanh believes that those who harbor inner suffering, or "knots," are unable to attain the inner peace necessary to practice mindful living. By dealing with negative emotions through a five-step transformation process, the reader is taught to use negative experiences to attain positive energy. First, one must recognize the negative emotion through mindful observation.