I might find that I have a habit of being jealous and comparing myself with other people and riveting my attention on how much somebody else is accomplishing or doing, or how much better they are at such and such. First, I might recognize the story - the mental images and internal dialogue - and say, "Okay, comparing mind." Then, rather than staying caught in the content, I'll bring my attention into my body and open to the immediate feelings that are there.

If you let someone know you appreciate him or her, especially when you're going to disagree, it gets that person's defenses down.

By regarding ourselves with kindness, we begin to dissolve the identity of an isolated, deficient self. This creates the grounds for including others in an unconditionally loving heart.

Meditation helps us to get out of our thoughts about the future and really be in the present moment.

By running from what we fear, we feed the inner darkness

But this revolutionary act of treating ourselves tenderly can begin to undo the aversive messages of a lifetime.

What would it be like if, right in the midst of this busyness, we were to consciously take our hands off the controls? What if we were to intentionally stop our mental computations and our rushing around and, for a minute or two, simply pause and notice our inner experience?