black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

When we learn to respond to disappointments with acceptance, we give ourselves the space to realize that all our experiences—good and bad alike—are opportunities to learn and grow.

Sharon Salzberg

The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention.
SHARON SALZBERG

Attention Deep Difference Happiness Misery Philosophy
Effort is the unconstrained willingness to persevere through difficulty.
SHARON SALZBERG

Difficult Effort Perseverance Willing
It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn’t depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn’t depend on how long you’ve held on to the old view.
SHARON SALZBERG

Ability Break Habit Light Perspective View
We have the power to improve our work lives immeasurably through awareness, compassion, patience & ingenuity.
SHARON SALZBERG

Compassion Improvement Live Patience Power
If we truly loved ourselves, we’d never harm another. That is a truly revolutionary, celebratory mode of self-care.
SHARON SALZBERG

Love Ourselves Self Love True
In those moments when we realize how much we cannot control, we can learn to let go.
SHARON SALZBERG

Control Learning Let Go Moments
Even as we recognize our resentment, bitterness, or jealousy, we can also honor our own wish to be happy, to feel free.
SHARON SALZBERG

Feeling Freedom Happiness
We long for permanence but everything in the known universe is transient. That’s a fact but one we fight.
SHARON SALZBERG

Fight Philosophy
The mind thinks thoughts that we don’t plan. It’s not as if we say, ‘At 9:10 I’m going to be filled with self-hatred.
SHARON SALZBERG

Hate Mindset Science Thinking
Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what’s happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire and permanent self.
SHARON SALZBERG

Difference Experience Mindset Ourselves Philosophy See Story
Because the development of inner calm & energy happens completely within & isn’t dependent on another person or a particular situation, we begin to feel a resourcefulness and independence that is quite beautiful—and a huge relief.
SHARON SALZBERG

Beautiful Beginning Development Energy Independent Person
All beings want to be happy, yet so very few know how. It is out of ignorance that any of us cause suffering, for ourselves or for others.
SHARON SALZBERG

Happiness Ignorance Ourselves Philosophy Suffering
For any marginalized group to change the story that society tells about them takes courage and perseverance.
SHARON SALZBERG

Change Courage Perseverance Story
Once someone appears to us primarily as an object, kindness has no place to root.
SHARON SALZBERG

Appearance Kindness
We’re capable of much more than mediocrity, much more than merely getting by in this world.
SHARON SALZBERG

Ability Worth
Fearful of wasting a second, we hoard time as if it were money.
SHARON SALZBERG

Fear Money Time

When we learn to respond to disappointments with acceptance, we give ourselves the space to realize that all our experiences—good and bad alike—are opportunities to learn and grow.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

When we learn to respond to disappointments with acceptance, we give ourselves the space to realize that all our experiences—good and bad alike—are opportunities to learn and grow.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Sharon Salzberg Quotes