Pema Chodron Quotes

Patience doesn't mean making a pact with the devil of denial, ignoring our emotions and aspirations. It means being wholeheartedly engaged in the process that's unfolding, rather than ripping open a budding flower or demanding a caterpillar hurry up and get that chrysalis stage over with.

As we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make friends with the impostor and accept that we are impoverished and broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God. The art of gentleness toward ourselves leads to being gentle with others -- and is a natural prerequisite for our presence to God in prayer.

Knowing that anger makes me ugly, I smile instead. I return to myself and meditate on love.

If I could give my teenaged self any advice, it would be 'Calm down!'

We can't express ourselves always at the time we should. Sometimes it takes time.

Success and failure are emotional and physiological experiences. We need to deal with them in a way that is present and calm.

I just have to be myself. I'm not perfect, and I'm going to make mistakes; I might say the wrong thing. I have to be responsible to my community, and I feel like I am, but then I have to not be so hard on myself.

I don't really believe in regret or mistakes. I try to take everything as it is, be comfortable with myself.

We are becoming able to see the pursuit of external power for what it is and the futility of trying to escape the pain of powerlessness by changing the world. When we look inward, not outward, we can dismantle the parts of our personalities that have controlled us for so long - such as anger, jealousy, vindictiveness, superiority, inferiority.

I'm really out of touch with myself emotionally. I've always had a hard time talking about how I feel.

I want to get comfortable with my insecurities until I am no longer insecure. I want to be comfortable in my skin so that I do not need to dump any of my discomfort onto someone else in the form of judgment.

You learn to accept your own reality.

Neither blame or praise yourself.

I find that we must be careful not to judge or weigh in on anything other than ourselves. I am living and learning this still!

I had to let my ego go a long time ago.

The ability to reflect is associated with critical thinking and reasoning ability. And the capacity to be alone is one of the highest levels of development. It's important to know how to self-soothe and be confident of other people's love even when they're not there in front of you.

Where I once constantly lost my temper, I found myself arriving at a crisis and experiencing peace.

Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.

I used to think I needed to have drama at all times, or I wouldn't have the fuel for the performance. Now I know that's not true. That doesn't mean I don't feel it, but I recognize it when I do and put the brakes on. And if the performance isn't what it might have been once, I've learned not to judge myself as much.

Sometimes I think I'm a bit impatient, and a bit more patience would help me in some cases.

I discovered I'm a lot more patient than I thought I'd be. It takes a lot to shake me.

The most important relationship we have in our lives is the relationship we have with ourselves, and we're not taught about it.

Learning to love yourself is not going to happen overnight - the first step is trying to be kinder and more patient with yourself, and I understand that it takes time.

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage. How are we to be patient in dealing with our neighbour's faults if we are impatient in dealing with our own? He who is fretted by his own failings will not correct them. All profitable correction comes from a calm and peaceful mind.

If the ego is inflated it must be gradually deflated.