The painful thing is that when we buy into disapproval, we are practicing disapproval. When we buy into harshness, we are practicing harshness. The more we do it, the stronger these qualities become. How sad it is that we become so expert at causing harm to ourselves and others. The trick then is to practice gentleness and letting go. We can learn to meet whatever arises with curiosity and not make it such a big deal.

Searching for happiness prevents us from ever finding it.

Without giving up hope—that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be—we will never relax with where we are or who we are.

What if rather than being disheartened by the ambiguity, the uncertainty of life, we accepted it and relaxed into it?

You build inner strength through embracing the totality of your experience, both the delightful parts and the difficult parts.

Compassion isn't some kind of self-improvement project or ideal that we're trying to live up to. Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don't even want to look at.

Life's work is to wake up, to let the things that enter your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.