Maybe that’s it, the meaning of life, or one of them, the best of them: to find the moments that are not the things that happen, but the things that finally are. To be there. To be in them. To feel the world hold its breath, and you holding yours with it, and know that in the stillness, in the quiet, in the waiting, there is everything
Niall Williams, This is Happiness
Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself.
Instead of just ignoring your pain with a ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality,
you stop to tell yourself, ‘This is really difficult right now,’
how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?”
Kristen Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
Little by Little you must train yourself for life, for happiness.
You probably received a college degree that you spent years working for,
and you thought that happiness would be possible after you got it.
But that was not true, because after getting the degree and finding a job,
you continued to suffer.
You have to realize that happiness is not something you find at the end of the road. You have to understand that it is here, now.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh
It’s not what we are doing that is important, but the care, kindness, and integrity we put into even the smallest thing.
Do not seek to do extraordinary things;
Just do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
Saint Francis de Sales, whose feast day was yesterday, Introduction to the Devout Life, Part III, Chapter 10
The forest is peaceful , why aren’t you?
You hold onto the things that are causing you confusion.
Let nature teach you. Hear the birdsong, then let go.
If you know nature, you’ll know the truth
If you know truth, You’ll know nature
Ajahn Chah
Ultimately, happiness comes down to choosing between
the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions
and the discomfort of being ruled by them
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
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