Life's work is to wake up, to let the things that enter your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.
Pema ChodronDiscomfort of any kind becomes the basis for practice. We breathe in knowing our pain is shared.
Pema ChodronAccording to the Buddhist belief, you can go on and on indefinitely, so you see your life as just a brief moment in time.
Pema ChodronFeelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that weโre holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel weโd rather collapse and back away. Theyโre like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where weโre stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, itโs with us wherever we are.
Pema Chodron