The author of the article considers the problem of gaining the meaning of life through the development of sanogenic reflection, presents research data on the relationship of indicators of protective reflection with indicators of life meaningfulness, the level of depression, indicators of self-esteem, self-esteem, subjective happiness of students of the Art and Graphic Faculty of Moscow State University. The analysis of the obtained results is given.

The national historical specificity of the Russian mentality is revealed in the article by studying in the texts of A. P. Chekhov such a significant constructs of being as happiness and sadness. Based on sixteen different texts it was found that for the russian mentality which was reflected in the works of Chekhov it’s typical to demonstrate sadness openly and to minimize the joyous state. However, this difference isn’t statistically important which means it corresponds to the equilibrium state of a normal culture. It was revealed that the characters in Chekhov’s works are rather sensual, are likely to be glad and sad without any particular reason for that. But their attitude to sadness is more stereotyped whereas the feeling of joy, happiness often make them irritable. According to the perception of Chekhov’s characters of “happy” and “unhappy” things, the mentality has the dual nature, these are attractive and repulsive.