There is never a circumstance, no matter how catastrophic, that also does not hold within it an opportunity to better things, to better yourself. Every moment brings with it an opportunity to love, to forgive, to grow beyond your shortcomings.

For years I was so busy building walls I did not see I was imprisoning myself behind them, and did not recognize this pattern as being addiction. My addictive thinking and behavior became the bars of my cell. Denying feeling empty inside, I constantly looked for new things to acquire, people to be around, substances to take, and new goals to achieve in order to feel better about myself. Over the last four decades I have focused on healing my addictive mind and helping others do the same.

If you believe you are an effect of the world around you - that your happiness is dependent on this thing or that person - then you are always going to be a victim of circumstance to one degree or another.

When the mind no longer sees itself as a body, forever in bondage to the body, the mind can be free and at peace even when we are physically sick.

Most people believe they know what it is that would make them happy, and what it is that they should get rid of in order to be happy. Unfortunately, few actually do.

It is impossible to hold a grudge and have peace of mind at the same time. It would be like trying to have day and night exist in the same moment.

Most of us, if we are truly honest with ourselves, have an ever-evolving and ever-growing list of what we think we must change in order to be at peace or to be happy.