“We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available.”

Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.

Sometimes when I am alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else.

The source of a true smile is an awakened mind. Smiling helps you approach the day with gentleness and understanding.

There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.

Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others will be possible.

Human beings are not our enemy. Our enemy is not the other person. Our enemy is the violence, ignorance, and injustice in us and in the other person.

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.

Life is a miracle, and being aware of simply this can already make us very happy.

The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.

In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change.

If you love someone but rarely make yourself available to him or her, that is not true love.

The desire to be a free person is very worthwhile. To be free means you are no longer the victim of fear, anger, craving, or suspicion.

At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.

Nonviolent action, born of the awareness of suffering and nurtured by love, is the most effective way to confront adversity.

If you think that peace and happiness are somewhere else and you run after them, you will never arrive.

A true partner or friend is one who encourages you to look deep inside yourself for the beauty and love you’ve been seeking.