The mistake we make is that when we're feeling another person is not treating us in the way that makes us feel secure and loved, we fixate our attention on that person and what's wrong with them. We also fixate on what's wrong with us. Instead, we can bring forward two wings of awareness: the wing of mindfulness (noticing what's going on inside us) and the wing of kindness (compassion to what's going on inside us).

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.

It may sound lovey-dovey, but there's research showing the positive effect of meditation on parts of the brain that control emotion.

Nothing is wrong - whatever is happening is just "real life."

Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom.

This longing to express and celebrate life is innate and quite beautiful.

Our greatest longing is to be intimate.