Pema Chodron Quotes

Doubt your doubts before you doubt your beliefs.

I try not to be overly analytical.

The object of studying philosophy is to know one's own mind, not other people's.

I'm not afraid to blame myself for any of my own faults or just to analyze things in a different way, but I don't overanalyze, either.

Because I've always been good at knowing what I thought and not reviewing prematurely and have gotten better at those things over the years, my flips are rarely that significant.

Upon reflection, I decided I had three main weaknesses: I was confused (evidenced by a lack of facts, an inability to coordinate my thoughts, and an inability to verbalize my ideas); I had a lack of confidence, which cause me to back down from forcefully stated positions; and I was overly emotional at the expense of careful, 'scientific' though. I was thirty-seven years old and still discovering who I was.

It is only with distance that we are able to turn our powers of observation on ourselves, thus fashioning stories in which we are characters.

You have, which is a rare thing, the ability and the responsibility to listen to the dissent in yourself. To at least give it the floor. Because it is the key, not only to consciousness, but to real growth.

Sometimes I wish I wasn't as conscious as I am. It would be so much easier.

Learning to cultivate an awareness of the known and unknown within one's being often leads to a healthier and more realistic sense of self.

The only way someone can be of help to you is in challenging your ideas. If you're ready to listen and if you're ready to be challenged, there's one thing that you can do, but no one can help you. What is this most important thing of all? It's called self-observation.

The advantages of philosophy? That I am able to hold converse with myself.

A story is a letter that the author writes to himself, to tell himself things that he would be unable to discover otherwise.

Every time I change the way I explain myself to myself, I have to rearrange the story of my life.

First Sight means you can see what really is there, and Second Thoughts mean thinking about what you are thinking. And in Tiffany's case, there were sometimes Third Thoughts and Fourth Thoughts although these...sometimes led her to walk into doors.

If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance.

After all, without understanding yourself, what basis have you for right thinking?

You've got to be able to look at your thoughts on paper and discover what a fool you were.

God give me the wisdom to see the truth however contrary to my established beliefs.

I think I'm aware of what goes on in my mind more than some guys, and for that reason I fight more battles.

More than anything else, what differentiates people who live up to their potential from those who don't is a willingness to look at themselves and others objectively

Until a man can quit talking loudly to himself in order to shout down the memories of blunderings and gropings, he is in no shape for the painstaking examination of distress.

But recently I've, the past few years, I'm more focused on meditation. It's not a physical part. It's more mental part, to understand life.

I've found that doing interviews forces you to face yourself; I'm constantly having to search within myself, to see why I do certain things.

You have to be ruthless with yourself, in terms of being honest about what is working and what is not.