Postpone result/solution thinking until later; it's through connection that solutions materialize - empathy before education.

The key to fostering connection in the face of a 'no' is always hearing 'yes' to something else.

We are responsible for what we hear other people say and for how we act.

Fix-it jackals can't wait to fix it, because they don't know how to enjoy pain. And until you learn how to enjoy pain, you can't enjoy intimacy.

Blaming and punishing others are superficial expressions of anger.

Punishment is the root of violence on our planet.

I recommend allowing others the opportunity to fully express themselves before turning our attention to solutions or requests for relief. When we proceed too quickly to what people might be requesting, we may not convey our genuine interest in their feelings and needs; instead, they may get the impression that we're in a hurry to either be free of them or to fix their problem. Furthermore, an initial message is often like the tip of an iceberg; it may be followed by yet unexpressed, but related - and often more powerful - feelings.