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

Compassion can be described as letting ourselves be touched by the vulnerability and suffering that is within ourselves and all beings. The full flowering of compassion also includes action: Not only do we attune to the presence of suffering, we respond to it.

We can find true refuge within our own hearts and minds-right here, right now, in the midst of our moment-to-momen t lives.

When we experience stress, the nervous system tries to control things. Part of waking up is discovering what we are beyond that controlling organism.

This is for anyone reading this who wants to explore it. Recognize the thought, "Afraid of loving," then gently put your hand on your heart to send a message of kindness.

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.

When I'm attached, I find that I don't see the other person as clearly because I'm more caught up in what I'm wanting.