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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

Thinking we are only supposed to have loving & compassionate feelings can be a terrible obstacle to spiritual practice.
SHARON SALZBERG

Compassion Feeling Love Spiritual Thinking
Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope – a slight change, and all patterns alter.
SHARON SALZBERG

Change Deep Life
Training attention through meditation opens our eyes.
SHARON SALZBERG

Attention Eyes Ourselves Spiritual Training
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

Acceptance Disappointment Experience Goodness Growth Learning Opportunity
Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives.
SHARON SALZBERG

Life Ourselves Skill Transformation
Mindfulness, also called wise attention, helps us see what we’re adding to our experiences, not only during meditation sessions but also elsewhere.
SHARON SALZBERG

Attention Experience Help Mindset Wisdom
The embodiment of kindness is often made difficult by our long ingrained patterns of fear and jealousy.
SHARON SALZBERG

Difficult Fear Kindness
In those moments when we realize how much we cannot control, we can learn to let go.
SHARON SALZBERG

Control Learning Let Go Moments
While happiness is an end in itself, it is also the state of mind we can have right now.
SHARON SALZBERG

End Happiness Mind Right
By engaging in a delusive quest for happiness, we bring only suffering upon ourselves. In our frantic search for something to quench our thirst, we overlook the water all around us and drive ourselves into exile from our own lives.
SHARON SALZBERG

Happiness Live Ourselves Search Suffering
We can free ourselves from the old stories that have reduced us & allow real love for ourselves to blossom.
SHARON SALZBERG

Freedom Ourselves Story True Love
The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention.
SHARON SALZBERG

Attention Deep Difference Happiness Misery Philosophy
With a clear intention and a willing spirit, sooner or later we experience the joy and freedom that arises when we recognize our common humanity with others and see that real love excludes no one.
SHARON SALZBERG

Experience Freedom Humanity Joy Spirit Willing
Forgiveness that is insincere, forced or premature can be more psychologically damaging than authentic bitterness & rage.
SHARON SALZBERG

Anger Force Forgiveness
Love exists in itself, not relying on owning or being owned.
SHARON SALZBERG

Existence Love Philosophy
Meditation can be a refuge, but it is not a practice in which real life is ever excluded. The strength of mindfulness is that it enables us to hold difficult thoughts and feelings in a different way—with awareness, balance, and love
SHARON SALZBERG

Difficult Feeling Life Love Reality Strength

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.

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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.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Sharon Salzberg Quotes