Becoming less focused on the past and future and not resisting the moment is how to overcome fear, physical pain, and all suffering.

Most likely, when you are upset for any reason, it is rare that you will want to quickly see the real cause of your upset or the solution, but with practice you can begin to ask yourself honestly, is it the person/situation or is it my unforgiving thoughts about this person and the past that are upsetting me?

For me, the more I don't foolishly waste my life wishing for a better past the more free I am today to create, grow, and love.

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 we combine acceptance with self-responsibility we can then see that whenever we are in a painful or disturbing situation we have two choices: We can work compassionately to bring something positive to the situation or leave. However, the key is the mental stance that we make the choice from, and thus the first step is always accepting the moment without resistance.

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.

How important is it really that you feel satisfied right now for 2 minutes, compared to getting yourself free from addiction forever?