It's very benign, it seems, to think, "There's a tree." In fact, it's a very beautiful thought. If someone chops down all the trees, then we think, "Oh, my goodness, something is out of order in my world." We begin to think, "Who am I in a world without trees?"

Mind is infinitely creative. And when it's not stuck, that's where the joy comes from. Something happens, and the way we think about it, understand it, see it, is actually hilarious, whereas before it used to depress us.

As far as intellect, what else is there? Without intellect, no story and no world.

If our stressful thoughts aren't true, what does that leave? It leaves, "I am loveable" - the very thing I could never make myself believe, because "I'm unloveable" overrides it when the chips are down.

An uncomfortable feeling is not an enemy. It's a gift that says, "Get honest; inquire." We reach out for alcohol, or television, or credit cards, so we can focus out there and not have to look at the feeling. And that's as it should be, because in our innocence we haven't known how. So now what we can do is reach out for a paper and a pencil, write thought down, and investigate.

I didn't fight or shame my thoughts, I questioned them, and they stopped shaming me.

When you believe that your problem is caused by someone or something else, you become your own victim.