Stories about ourselves and about the world continually arise in our minds and shape our beliefs about reality.

Meditation can change the flavor of the season.

The renowned seventh-century Zen master Seng-tsan taught that true freedom is being "without anxiety about imperfection.

We wait for things to be different in order to feel okay with life. As long as we keep attaching our happiness to the external events of our lives, which are ever changing, we’ll always be left waiting for it.

Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance.

If our hearts are ready for anything, we will spontaneously reach out when others are hurting. Living in an ethical way can attune us to the pain and needs of others, but when our hearts are open and awake, we care instinctively.

Just remember that everyone is struggling; everyone is living with fear and uncertainty and it doesn't matter what their politics are.