Pema Chodron Quotes

We all struggle with our failure to communicate and our failure to reach beyond fear to love people.

We spend so much time closing ourselves to protect from scary things that we forget that when we do open to the world, inspiration can flow.

The main thing in life is not to be afraid of being human.

I think it's good to be a little more fearless in saying what you feel. In not being scared of the repercussions of that.

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.

It is going to take a very brave man to love me.

Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.

To me, having the courage to tell your own story goes hand in hand with having the curiosity and humility to listen to others' stories.

To give and receive love, you have to be in touch with pain, you have to be capable of provoking it and feeling it.

At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I'll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.

The older I get, the more I understand that the only way to say valuable things is to lose your fear of being correct.

Love is the total absence of fear. Love asks no questions. Its natural state is one of extension and expansion, not comparison and measurement.

Fear is a question. What are you afraid of and why? Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them.

I understand now that the vulnerability I've always felt is the greatest strength a person can have. You can't experience life without feeling life. What I've learned is that being vulnerable to somebody you love is not a weakness, it's a strength.

I am not frightened of speaking my mind. I don't have fear in that regard.

I'm not afraid to be bluntly honest in my songs, even if it means I'm discovering things about myself that I'd rather not.

I have too much respect for people to try to control them. But they are estranged from love, afraid to reach out and touch one another. We're afraid to appear sentimental or speak in platitudes because people will say, 'What a jerk!' It takes courage in our culture to be a lover.

In the beginning, people think vulnerability will make you weak, but it does the opposite. It shows you're strong enough to care.

I'm not brave at all.

I want to be honest, and even if that's scary, I know it's worth it.

I don't have to research humanity, I just have to be courageous enough to share that part of myself with everybody.

The most vulnerable people have tough exteriors because they are very scared inside, and it's very hard for people like that - people like me - to open up. But playing it safe means you stop being open to learning. I always try to find the challenges.

Love casts out fear, but we have to get over the fear in order to get close enough to love them.

If you are afraid of being lonely, don't try to be right.

Dare to be honest and fear no labor.