Listening well is an exercise of attention and by necessity hard work. It is because they do not realize this or because they are not willing to do the work that most people do not listen well.

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.

When we love something it is of value to us, and when something is of value to us we spend time with it, time enjoying it and time taking care of it.

Genuine love is volitional rather than emotional. The person who truely loves does so because of a decision to love. This person has made a commitment to be loving whether or not the loving feeling is present. ...Conversely, it is not only possible but necessary for a loving person to avoid acting on feelings of love.

Commitment is inherent in any genuinely loving relationship.

There is no virtue inherent in un-constructive suffering.

Examination of the world without is never as personally painful as examination of the world within.